See chapter 1 for disclaimers.

Chapter 9: An Heir's Worth

A few days passed, and Jebel resumed his normal duties and training regimen at the Collegium. While he was still distracted by his worries over his family; he did his best to set them aside, especially when the weapons' master was trying to train him into an early grave. Being preoccupied while training under Alberich was a sure way to get hurt, and inspire the man to push his student even harder.

He still wanted to find a way to help his family, but he had no way of hurrying those gathering information directly, so he spent some of his limited free-time in the Collegium's archives, learning everything he could about Karse. What he found there wasn't encouraging. Everything he read indicated that the people of that land were brutal by nature, especially the sun priests, and he came close to despairing over what his aunt and cousin must have been going through. He couldn't give up, though, and focused on what was known of the temples and the geography around a specific one in northern Karse, overlooking the Sunserpent River. It wasn't much, but it was something that felt like progress.

When not engaged in research, he spent time catching up, as Elcarth had suggested, with what had been going on in the capital during his internship. He wasn't quite sure what Elcarth had wanted him to learn, but he had a suspicion. There was casual talk around the Collegium that Elspeth, the heir to the throne, still hadn't been chosen.

It wasn't something that was being talked about too openly, being a touchy subject for a number of reasons, but he did hear whispers. Jebel noted the information, but didn't participate in the gossip. While he knew the situation was troubling for the Queen, and could cause big problems for Valdemar in the future, there seemed little that he could do about it, as he had never even met Elspeth. It was yet another matter that was out of his hands.

After a particularly fruitless afternoon spent in the archives, Jebel set out to find some company. He had, it seemed, exhausted all of the useful materials on Karse. He didn't want to mope or to have anyone pity him. He just needed to unwind after thinking far too much on all the things he couldn't do, he went looking for some of his friends as he had no further duties for the day, and soon found himself sitting with a group of Heralds and Heralds-in-training. Skif was there and he noted that Talia, the Queen's Own, was also present, though she was not participating much in the lively talk the group was engaged in.

Not long after joining them, and indulging in some of the food and light wine that someone had brought to the gathering, another Herald, one he couldn't immediately place, came in. He didn't pay too much attention, busy talking about Alberich's new training regimen with some of the younger students, when a commotion drew their attention.

"I heard it from one of the servants," the man said, addressing the people who had gathered around him.

"How would a servant have overheard something like that?" one of the Heralds near enough to have heard the news, scoffed.

"Overheard what?" Skif asked pushing through the group. Jebel moved in his wake, curious.

"Since the heir has not been chosen by a Companion," the man reported, "there is some talk about appointing a current Herald as the new heir, should the worst happen." He added the last bit hastily. Queen Selenay was still relatively young and in good health, but nothing was ever certain.

"Can they do that?" one of the students asked, sounding honestly baffled by the development. "She is the princess."

"By law," Jebel offered, knowing the answer as surely as the student should have, "the monarch must be a Herald. That's more important than being a blood-relation to the current queen." Several of the older Heralds nodded, looking grave at the news. It was a reasonable course of action, he supposed, as the worst-case scenario had to be considered, but no one was happy with the idea. He sincerely hoped there wouldn't be more trouble when the current heir learned of this talk. Tales of young heir's tirades were near legend around the palace. He was drawn from his musings by a question.

"How exactly did a servant hear this before any of us?" another member of the group asked.

"Are you kidding?" Skif asked. "Good servants are trained to be inconspicuous when they aren't needed, and we wear bright white leather. They're next to invisible compared to us." There were some quiet chuckles over that, but they died down quickly.

"Any names mentioned?" someone asked.

"A couple were apparently mentioned, but he was too nervous to repeat them," the man who had brought the news replied. This started a new round of speculation. Some of the suggestions seemed reasonable while others were far less so. Another problem that's beyond my control, he thought morosely. If my life has a theme…

"What do you think, Jebel?" someone asked. Jebel looked around to see one of the Collegium's instructors. "That's a very serious expression you're wearing. Has our newly-minted Herald any thoughts of feelings on the matter?"

Jebel thought about it for a moment. "Aside from relief that I won't be considered? None at all." There was a beat of silence before several people burst out laughing.

"This one's got a good head on his shoulders," an older Herald grinned.

Talia, he noted, wasn't laughing. He had heard that she was due to leave on her internship soon, and he also knew that she had put a lot of time and effort reforming the one that many around the palace had privately referred to as 'the brat.'

This, he realized, must be difficult for her. She probably feels like she failed at the most important job she's ever been given. He couldn't think of a thing to say to her to make things easier, even if he had known her better.

The talk went on for a while, but no conclusions were drawn and no one wanted to rub salt in an open would by carrying on the talk in front of Talia. The Queen's Own left after a while, looking profoundly discouraged.

OOOOOOOOOO

It was raining when the gathering broke up, each going their own way, whether to the baths, to night duty, or simply to bed. Jebel wasn't tired and decided a bath might help. He made his way to the baths and cleaned himself, then simply soaked in the warm water for a time, thinking on the various problems he faced. There seemed too little he could do about any of them, and eventually left the bath more restless than before. He shielded his thoughts, not wishing to disturb Arctus with his moping. It was something he'd grown used to doing, and barely thought about it anymore. Respecting each other's privacy was one reason they got along so well.

Going back to his quarters, Jebel found that he couldn't sleep. After making a token effort to rest, he rose, donned his whites and went for a walk. The rain that had started that afternoon had increased in intensity and become a true storm. There was no reason to venture outside, though. He wandered the halls, hoping to tire himself out.

It was only a short time, however, before he ran into Tobin. The servant, on seeing him, smiled and nodded. Jebel made an effort to be nice to all of the servants, but Tobin was one of the few that genuinely seemed to consider him a friend, which pleased Jebel. Most merely saw the gap between Herald and servant and were studiously polite.

"Herald Jebel. Do you have duty tonight?"

"No." Jebel shook his head. "I just couldn't sleep. Thought I'd take a walk."

Tobin nodded sympathetically, and then brightened. "The kitchen just got in a new load of those melons you like. Should be some for breakfast. I could set a couple aside for you, as well."

"Thanks. I'd appreciate that." It was a small bit of good news, but he'd take it. Tobin had duties to attend to, so after another moment or two of exchanging pleasantries, he hurried on. Jebel resumed his walk, looking forward to breakfast if nothing else.

Wandering at random through the Collegium, he paused as he happened to see someone headed outside. The person's movements were, while not exactly furtive, did make him curious. The fact that whoever it was, was heading out into the storm was even stranger. He followed carefully. White leathers were not ideal for following someone undetected, but he snagged a rain cloak from the mud room where he exited and quickly located his target using FarSight.

Wait. Is that heir Elspeth? The discovery gave him pause, and made him reconsider following her, but his curiosity won out.

He watched as she approached Companion's Field and waited, seeming in a daze. A number of Companions were gathered farther into the field and seemed to be concentrating on something. He focused on that spot instead, with his FarSight, determined to learn what was going on. After a few moments, a Companion emerged from the Grove at the center of the Field and walked toward the fence where Elspeth waited, seeming oblivious to the rain.

He pulled the hood of his cloak down and the rest more tightly around himself, wishing he could ignore the downpour. Still, it had been worth it. He knew of no one else who could say they had seen a Companion born of the grove with their own eyes. He wasn't sure why it had apparently been necessary to get the heir a Companion, but was willing to chalk it up to more Companion strangeness that was really none of his business.

:Jebel?!: