Chapter summary: In which Xichen learns more of Valdemar and himself, and the ramifications of his arrival begin to create ripples.

4: Gift of Tongues

Healer Tabitha refused to allow Xichen to do anything she deemed strenuous for three days or until she was thoroughly satisfied that he was indeed fully healed and not just a very good actor. Understandable, considering he had apparently been unconscious and unresponsive for several days while his golden core regained the spiritual energy he'd lost and his body recovered from the strain from his desperate flight. Considering he'd flown without pause for at least a full day and most of the night by his reckoning, he wasn't surprised.

Healer Tabitha's protectiveness of his health was commendable. Her voracity would have been amusing had Xichen not begun to itch with the desire to do something. Unfortunately, the list of things the healer deemed 'too strenuous' included exercising, running, sword practice, and heavy lifting. All things he enjoyed and was certain his body was fully capable of now at, or very close to, his usual levels. Thankfully, this was his last day where morning strolls were the be all, end all of his medically limited workout schedule and Healer Tabitha was finally satisfied.

On the bright side, his forced idleness and Healer Tabitha's willingness to talk to him and explain more about Valdemar, with Gala's interjecting her own opinions, of course, had kept his mind sharp in the interim. It was always wise to learn more about your surroundings, particularly in an entirely foreign land.

Valdemar was a kingdom, a country ruled by a single person who inherited the throne from a predecessor of the same family. The current ruler of Valdemar was Queen Selenay, a Herald in her own right, whom Healer Tabitha felt nothing but respect and awe for. Even Gala radiated the same feelings of respect and honor for the queen. That boded well. If a leader could garner such true emotion from their followers at the mere mention of their name, then they were unlikely to be an inherently evil person.

This was somewhat similar to the inheritance of Clan Leader in the cultivation world. However, that was where the comparison ended. Where in Valdemar, the ruler's power was checked by a Council, this was not the case with the Clans. The Clan Leader's words were final. They could be reasoned with or advised one way or another. But once the Clan Leader made a decision, it was final and absolute.

The Heralds of Valdemar were considered servants of the Queen, representing her in all they said and did. They traveled across the countryside with their Companions solving problems, mediating disagreements, and wielding their Gifts when needed.

While cultivators from the five major clans often traveled throughout their territory, they did not enforce the rules of their Clan on others. Nor did they act as problem solvers, law enforcement, or anything of the sort. Cities, towns, and villages were largely independent. They governed themselves and functioned quite well without oversight. Cultivators protected their territory primarily from the supernatural. Although the occasional human crime could fall into that category in certain circumstances, they were not a cultivator's primary purpose.

The Clans conducted frequent night-hunts across their territory. Similar to how Heralds went on travel circuits around Valdemar. Junior cultivators were restricted to the less dangerous night-hunts until their skills displayed in the field convinced their group elder to allow them to advance to more difficult night-hunts. Heraldic Trainees were also limited in their exposure until they had passed a certain level of experience.

However, unlike with Heralds, it was rare for cultivators to travel alone. Although, it wasn't unheard of either. Strong cultivators like Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji could and sometimes did travel alone for night-hunts. Though whether their presence was considered a blessing or a curse by the civilians in the same area as the night-hunt was up for debate. After all, if a powerful cultivator was night-hunting in the area, then chances were the monster they were hunting was serious.

And there was another difference between Valdemar and Xichen's home. Monsters of the supernatural kind were scarce here. That simple fact had nearly knocked Xichen off his feet from disbelief. No monsters? None? It was hard to believe. He'd lived with the truth of monsters, fierce corpses, ghosts, curses, and many other terrifying things all of his life. To find a place where such things were unheard of was miraculous.

But it also brought to mind a darker thought. What could be so powerful as to keep such evil away for so long and so effectively that the locals knew little to nothing of their existence? Who, or what, held that power in place? A Seal? A Spell? Xichen didn't know. There were a few sources he could think of that could possibly be used to power such a thing. But he would be a fool to attempt any of them.

Tying a Spell or Seal into a Dragon Line, for instance, was an option. The near-unlimited power coursing through them would be an effective power source. However, it was not generally considered to be a wise choice. Dragon Lines carried the power of the earth itself in a raw form that very few could manage without burning to ash instantly.

The Vortexes, where two or more Dragon Lines crossed and created swirling eddies, were safer to handle. Tying a Seal or Spell to a Vortex could work. But it would still be dangerous. Dragon Lines moved like rivers and were just as powerful. If one or more Dragon Lines drifted away, this would change the location of the Vortex. If the Vortex moved away from where the Spell or Seal tied to it was located, then they would no longer be powered and be rendered useless.

One such Vortex was located directly under Haven. Xichen could feel it when he meditated. The swirling energy was soothing and something familiar in this land of the strange and foreign. As a trained cultivator, Xichen could immerse himself within a Dragon Line or Vortex during meditation or, if he was desperate, while fighting to boost the spiritual energy in his golden core.

The caveat being he would need to be in physical contact with the ground while doing so. As long as he touched the earth, he could ground himself and channel away any excess energy without harm. No cultivator was stupid enough to touch a Vortex or a Dragon Line without grounding themselves first.

Juniors were never allowed to attempt touching a Vortex, much less a Dragon Line, without the supervision of a highly experience cultivator. And even then, only after that junior was deemed strong enough to handle the influx of power.

After all, the energy flowing in the Dragon Lines may be energy, but it was not spiritual energy. If a cultivator simply wanted to immerse themselves in the energy, feel it, observe it, and guide it like a shoreline guided a river, then they could do so without too much risk. The danger lay when a cultivator sought to use the energy. They would need to convert the raw energy into spiritual energy using their golden cores before they could ever dream of using it. This took time, concentration, and effort. Failure to do so was deadly.

Xichen wondered absently if the Valdemaran Heralds could use the Dragon Lines and Vortexes. From what he understood, the Heralds seemed to be the vague equivalent to cultivators in this country. It wasn't a perfect comparison, but it was as close as Lan Xichen could come up with. Each Herald had a Companion they were bonded to and at least one of what they called Mind-Magic Gifts.

Of the Gifts, Mindspeech, the ability to communicate mind-to-mind as well as read other people's thoughts, seemed to be the most common. However, there were several other Gifts. There was FarSight, the ability to see things across vast distances without ever being present. Fetching, the ability to move object through space without touch. ForeSight, the ability to see the future; though whether that future was unchangeable or not seemed up for debate. FireStarting, which was blessedly rare much to Xichen's silent relief. Healing, like that exhibited by Healer Tabitha from the other day.

And Empathy, the ability to sense the emotional state of others and sometimes project or influence those emotions, wasn't very common except in Healers. So far, there was only one Herald who had Empathy as her sole Gift, the Queen's Own Herald Talia who was currently on a diplomatic mission to a neighboring country. Xichen had never known there were others with his Gift. He had never met anyone who seemed capable of it certainly. Then again, he had never met anyone remotely capable of any of the other Heraldic Gifts either. So perhaps he was unique.

Or… Well, some of the Wen Clan, like Young Master Wen Xu, could summon and control fire.

Oh dear.

:It can't be all that bad,: Gala said, finally speaking up and glancing at him from where she trotted next to him. It was the first thing she'd said since they'd begun their quiet, early morning stroll. :From what you showed me, his ability was very weak. Though true, FireStarting is a rare and powerful Gift all on its own, your Wen Xu didn't seem capable of doing more than lighting small, candle-like flames.:

It was still enough to render Cloud Recesses to ashes.

Gala's head dropped and Xichen placed his right hand on her neck in silent apology. He hadn't meant any offense. He merely meant to remind her that even small Gifts could be deadly if utilized strategically. A narrow slice to the wrist in just the right place could kill as efficiently as a beheading. He knew. He'd seen it.

Shifting his thoughts to a different topic of interest, Xichen focused on the pairing of the Empathy and Healing Gifts in one person. On the surface, he could see how the desire to help could be beneficial to a Healer. But could not understand how the Gift of Empathy could be utilized. He would be the first to admit his Empathy was very useful when he'd needed to share his spiritual energy with an injured clansman during a night hunt. But he wasn't sure how Empathy could be used with the Valdemaran Healing Gift.

:Empathy has many uses aside from merely sensing and projecting emotion. It can also be used to enhance other Gifts,: Gala replied, considering her answer thoughtfully.

Enhance?

Gala hummed an affirmative. :For instance, when backed by an Empath, someone with the Gift of FarSight can more easily locate and see a place with strong emotions attached to it.:

Like a battle ground or the location of a murder.

:Indeed. But it's not always such a grim task,: the Companion encouraged. :Sometimes the strong emotion could be joy or even love. So long as it's strong enough for the Empath to lock onto, then the FarSeer can see it.:

Fascinating. And its uses in Healing?

:Ah,: Gala sighed, her head drooping. :Mind-Healing. A typical Healer, such as Healer Tabitha, may have some Empathy too, but they can only heal the physical body of physical ailments. But a Mind-Healer can use their Empathy in tandem with their Healing to help heal the mind of mental and emotional ailments.:

Xichen pondered Gala's words, running them through his mind and seeking a comparison from the cultivation world. The closest equivalent he could come up with was the Song of Clarity.

:Song of Clarity?:

"A collection of music created by my clan," Xichen said aloud, his native tongue soft and familiar to his ears. "There are many individual songs in the collection, some stronger than others. Each has a different purpose, though sometimes those purposes overlap. When spiritual energy is infused into the music, the music can calm the mind and influence the body, encouraging the smoother, healthier flow of spiritual energy and lessening the effects of resentful energy."

The Companion's ears flicked with interest. :I knew music could influence a person's mood. Bards can sometimes influence their audience, drawing them into their song and causing them to feel the emotions behind the music. But I suppose I never considered the possibilities of music being used to heal.:

Xichen smiled quietly. "My clan uses music in most of our cultivation techniques," he said. "Though we as individuals often will specialize in one technique or another. I specialize in the Song of Clarity techniques, specifically Cleansing. My brother Wangji is masterful at using his guqin to associate with spirits through the Song of Inquiry. His skill far surpasses mine in that technique."

The day Wangji surpassed Xichen with the guqin would forever be a treasured memory. He had been so proud of him, still was. It proved to Xichen and, more importantly, to Wangji that his brother was skilled and worthy of praise, attention, and love their father seemed incapable of giving to anyone other than their mother. The adorable way Wangji's ears turned red in shy pride when Xichen hugged him just made the memory all the sweeter.

:You miss him.:

His smile slipped. "I do," he murmured, his breath misting in the cool, damp air. The sun was beginning to rise now. "But I will see him again. Once I am cleared to travel by both Healer Tabitha, I will return to my home."

:Not without me, you won't,: Gala retorted, tossing her head.

"You cannot fly, dear one," Xichen said, brushing his shoulder against her flank. "And however fast you may be, you are still a horse. Flying outpaces any horse."

He made a mental note to work on enchanting his sleeves to behave as qiankun pouches. Quite simply, he couldn't carry everything he would need for an extended trip in the wilderness with just four full qiankun bags, his sword, and his xiao and he would need his hands free for defense.

It took a few paces for Xichen to realize his Companion had stopped and was looking at him. He turned to her and waited, gently encouraging her to ask him what was on her mind.

:That is not the first time you mentioned flying,: Gala said, her mental voice carrying the tell-tale hint of skepticism. :I don't understand. You have no wings.:

Xichen chuckled. "I do not need them," he said, holding out his sword. "Shuoyue will do."

The Companion eyed the sword dubiously. :I fail to see what a sword has to do with flying,: she said, her clear blue eyes staring at him in what he knew was a pout.

Xichen's smile widened. "When Healer Tabitha gives me her blessing, I will show you."

A white ear flicked and Gala sighed, shaking her head and trotting forward until they moved side-by-side once more. :Every time I think I begin to understand you, Chosen, you surprise me.:

There was no derision or annoyance in her voice or that Xichen could feel. Just exasperation, confused acceptance of the weird and different, and warm affection for him. It wasn't the same as Wangji's, but he loved it nonetheless.

Wangji.

A faint flick of his fingers and a tiny, golden butterfly darted through the grass in what he hoped would be a successful trek to his brother.

"I'm told you slept for three days," Herald Elcarth said.

The man was old with creases on his face and the spark of quiet intelligence in his black eyes. He sat in the desk chair, facing Xichen with respectful interest. He had made no attempts to touch Xichen or intrude on his personal space. The Herald seemed content to just sit, observe, and talk. So far, their conversation had been civil with Xichen sensing the Herald's ready curiosity without the hint of suspicion.

Lan Xichen chose to remain seated cross-legged on his bed in the position he'd been in since his guest had arrived after breakfast. Secretly, he was a grateful for the distraction. Valdemaran eating utensils were… complicated. Gala's mental and emotional presence was nearby in Companion's Field where they'd walked earlier this morning. If he needed her, she would be there. But for now, they were both content as things were.

"Gave the Healers a right fright, that you did," Herald Elcarth continued. "No one could tell what was ailing you aside from the obvious physical exhaustion a handful of minor burns. Nor would they allow us anywhere near you until they were certain you wouldn't break out of whatever state you were in and attack someone again," he added. "I must admit, the circumstances of your Choosing and subsequent arrival in Haven have spread fairly quickly through the Collegia."

Yes. Xichen was aware. He'd been the subject of more than one cautious stare or whispered conversation whenever he went out alone or with Gala. Truth be told, Xichen could barely remember those few moments of vague wakefulness. Gala had filled him in with her own memory of events, the second day after he'd woken.

Someone had apparently tried to touch his forehead ribbon. Accident or not, even in his vulnerable, half-conscious state, Xichen knew no Lan would ever dare do such a thing. That meant whoever did was either a stranger or an enemy, possibly both. So he'd reacted.

Interestingly enough, Xichen felt no animosity or fear from Herald Elcarth. In fact, he would almost dare to call the emotion trickling across his sense wry amusement. Intrigued, Xichen offered a small smile and held his silence, waiting for his guest to continue.

Herald Elcarth chuckled. "Not one for words, I see."

"Only when I feel words are needed," Xichen replied easily.

That startled a laugh from the older man. "So I see." He leaned back in the chair and crossed his white-clothed arms over his chest. "Perhaps we should start from the beginning, as we should have earlier. My mistake. Forgive my rudeness."

Xichen nodded graciously.

"I am Herald Elcarth, Dean of the Herald's Collegium here in Haven," the man said. "I'm kept informed of the arrival of new Trainees for obvious reasons and," he waved a hand at Xichen, "your case was hard to miss."

"Healer Tabitha informed of your planned visit," Xichen replied, bowing his head as far as his position dictated. "I am Lan Xichen, Clan Heir of the Gusu Lan Clan."

The Herald paused, obviously considering the ramifications of what he'd just been told. "I am unfamiliar with your title and the… Clan you come from," he admitted after a moment. "Gala has informed us that she found you in the Pelagirs. That wild land is known to be settled by the Tayledras, but you do not strike me as one of theirs. So I hope you will forgive me if I'm being rude, but where are you from exactly?"

Ah, a good question. The Clans had no name for their homeland as a whole, save 'the earth.' Their entire existence was focused on their own territories and preventing harm and incursion, natural or otherwise, from befalling those it was their duty to protect. So he answered as best he could.

"Gusu." The confusion and mild frustration emanating from his guest was expected and mirrored Xichen's own to an extent. "I am sorry I cannot give you more," Xichen continued. "Would it help you to know I have never heard of your Valdemar before I arrived here?"

Herald Elcarth blinked in honest surprise. "Never?"

"No." Xichen sighed, resting his palms on his knees. He longed to have this discussion over a freshly brewed pot of tea. It always helped to sooth tensions and allow each person to breathe and think before replying. "Your language is also strange to me," he said slowly. "It is difficult to pronounce some of your words. I may understand what I hear and be able to reply in kind, but forming your words and choosing which word fits best is often a challenge."

"Which brings me to another question, if you don't mind," the Herald said when Xichen fell silent. He leaned forward, the excitement of a scholar bubbling from him and dancing in his voice. "The Gift of Tongues has not been seen in a Herald in a very long time. Do you know its limitations? Can you understand every language you hear? Could you speak a language you've never heard or do you need to hear it spoken aloud first? Can you understand written languages or just spoken languages?"

The mental image of Young Master Wei Wuxian was suddenly juxtaposed over Herald Elcarth's face and Xichen was eternally grateful for his years of self-disciple. Otherwise, he would have laughed out loud. He did allow himself a small huff and a wider smile as he waited for Herald Elcarth to run out of questions.

When the Herald did finally trail off, it was with a faint blush in his cheeks accompanied by the realization that he would need to wait if he wanted a reply. Lowering his shields as much as he felt necessary at the moment, Xichen used the opportunity to gaze into Herald Elcarth's black eyes and feel.

As expected, Herald Elcarth's interest in Xichen went deeper than just his position as a new Herald Trainee. But it was less from suspicion of a possible threat and more along the lines of ohnewshiny! that Xichen often felt from young junior Lan disciples just discovering the detailed depth of literature and texts in the Lan Clan's Library Pavilion. Or Young Master Wei.

Clearly, Herald Elcarth was a scholar, possibly even a historian. Xichen had presented Herald Elcarth with a living, breathing opportunity to learn more about the world he lived in and the very idea thrilled him. How could Xichen in fault in that?

Herald Elcarth's surprise that Xichen had never heard of Valdemar before was indeed genuine. It was also the source of numerous threads of emotion that spread out every which way in tangled mess. This is where the Herald's suspicion bloomed, concentrating on whether Xichen meant a possible threat to his people. That would need to be clarified quickly to quell that problem before it grew troublesome.

Awe was also present with a hint of jealousy tangled around it like a thin but thorny vine clinging to a young sapling. However, Xichen felt no threat from it. On closer inspection, he realized that the jealousy stemmed from the desire that swirled at its root. Desire not for Xichen as a person, but for knowledge of what Xichen had. His Gift of Tongues.

:It truly is rare,: Gala voice whispered in his mind. :It surprised me to no end when you suddenly replied to Healer Tabitha in flawless Valdemaran.:

I never doubted you, dear one, Xichen replied, carefully raising his shields once more to his preferred level. It is convenient. But I do wonder why it exists within me. Until now, I have never come across a person who spoke a language different from my own. Different accents and dialects, of course. But a different language entirely? Never.

"I give you word as Clan Heir," Xichen said aloud to his human guest, "unless you or someone acting on behalf of Valdemar harms one of my Clan, you have nothing to fear from me or mine." He smiled. "And as for the Gift of Tongues," he shook his head in reluctance, "I admit, I did not know I had such a Gift. I have come into contact with at least one other foreign tongue that I'm aware of. But I could not understand it until after I'd studied it for many years. It is not a spoken language. It is a language of sound.

"However," Xichen continued, "when I first spoke to Healer Tabitha, I did not realize the language I spoke was different from my own. At the time, I simply wondered why the words sounded odd to my ears."

"It sounds different to you?" Herald Elcarth asked curiously. "You can tell it sounds different even though you understand it? How so?"

Nodding, Xichen hummed. "It sounds…" he tilting his head in thought, "not curt, but clipped perhaps. The words do not flow one into the other like they do in my tongue. I can clearly distinguish each individual word. You also pause at odd intervals, you have sounds that I have trouble forming, names that are difficult to pronounce, and you are very… literal, I'm learning."

"Literal?"

"Mn, and honest. If you hate something, you say so clearly whether through words or your emotions. You hide nothing. What I feel in you," Xichen slowly, deliberately allowed his gaze to trace the older man's entire profile, "is what I see in you." He returned his amber gaze to Herald Elcarth's ebony. "It is entirely foreign to me."

Dark eyes narrowed, sensing the veiled warning Xichen gave him, cataloguing it with care. The man shifted, his white clothes catching the sunlight spilling through the windows and Xichen was reminded vaguely of the white fur of Gala's coat.

"If I may ask you a question in return?" he inquired. At the nod, Xichen ordered his thoughts. "I have told you I do not know where my home is in comparison to your country. Do you have a map of this land, or of the land surrounding it? Something to give me spatial context from which to work?"

There was a beat of hesitation before the old Herald shrugged. "I suppose I could show you," he said, getting up. "Most of the maps are in the library, if you're interested. I have another hour or so of free time before I'm expected in a meeting. Besides," he added, his eyes twinkling, "we could use this opportunity to test your Gift of Tongues. Don't think I didn't notice your dodging my questions, Trainee Lan Xichen."

Xichen stilled mid-motion before settling on his feet. "…Trainee?" he repeated.

"Indeed, indeed," Herald Elcarth said, either not noticing or choosing to ignore Xichen's surprise. He moved to the door and held it open, inviting Xichen to join in him the hallway. "I've seen your sword and I would be a fool to call you anything but a trained swordsman. But you are hardly a full Herald. No one is until they are properly trained. We will teach you what you will need to know of our country so you can properly serve it."

Ah. "There seems to be some misunderstanding," Xichen said, taking Shuoyue in his left hand and strode after Herald Elcarth. At the man's inquiring sound, Xichen tucked his right arm comfortably behind his back where Liebing was ticking in his belt and said, "When I am cleared for travel by Healer Tabitha, I will endeavor to return home with all speed."

He felt the elder man's gaze on him but felt no judgement or disdain from him. Just surprise and worry.

"I see," Herald Elcarth said in a voice that boded future conversations on this point.

Xichen held his sileence. He would not be swayed. He would stay in Valdemar only as long as it took to locate Valdemar and extrapolate his homeland. Then he would leave. He wouldn't ask Gala to come w-

:Don't even think about finishing that thought, Chosen,: Gala snapped, a mental image of her tossing her mane and swishing her tail in annoyance. :I will be going with you. You're my Chosen and I promised not to leave you.:

The smile that tugged at his lips was quiet but spoke volumes of his relief in the welcome support as he accompanied Herald Elcarth to the library.

Xichen stared at the maps spread out across the table, draped over the chair, and spread out on the floor nearby. He was certain now that he was so far away from home, that he couldn't recognize a single country or landform on the map he'd been given. He also now knew that, although he could understand and speak any language he heard, his Gift of Tongues did not translate written text. A mild setback which Herald Elcarth, and later Gala through his eyes, had helped mend by translating for him.

Based on what Gala told him of her Search, Xichen had been found in the Pelagirs Forest, a magically unstable and dangerous wooded wild land stretching west from the western boarder of Valdemar. Unfortunately, that's all she could tell him for certain and most maps of Valdemar cut off not too far into the Pelagirs. Apparently, the place wasn't well mapped out and no one was jumping at the bit to map it considering how many people were known to go missing in there.

Still, it gave him a vague clue as to his whereabouts. Lan Xichen may not have been in the best mindset at the time, but he knew he'd started out his journey by traveling west of Gusu. He'd then proceeded north following the shoreline towards Qinghe. He might have overshot his goal, but he was also fairly certain he hadn't lost site of the shoreline.

The relatively low cloud layer had blocked out his view of the stars that night and the stars here were not familiar to him. So he couldn't track himself using constellations. Thus, he had no choice but to rely on memory which he knew could be fallible.

But he needed a place to start and the map and his memory were as good a place as any. He knew he'd flown north along the shoreline, at least at first. There was nothing to the east that the Clans knew of except more ocean. But Xichen also knew that the world was round and thus, if one flew north far enough, they would eventually begin flying south. This brought up a couple options.

First, Xichen could have followed the shoreline north, crossed the north pole, then continued his flight southward. But Xichen knew the winds and their typical patterns well and he couldn't remember the air temperature dropping below freezing. Which it should have at the height he'd been flying at if he'd gotten close to the pole. Not to mention the turbulence from the towering mountains in the unstable land north of the Clan territories that was often experienced by any careless cultivator who flew too close.

The Clans knew the land continued further north, but that area was generally avoided. The air was cold year-round. The mountains scraped the sky with their dizzying height and trees grew wide and in peculiar directions due to the altitude and high winds.

Also, the land itself was treacherous and inhospitable. The Qishan Wen Clan chose to build their Nightless City near the crater of an active volcano. It was a dangerous choice, but the Wens had hearts of fire and they knew the risks. Besides, that particular volcano, although active and very deadly, was not explosive. It oozed lava in rivers across the landscape and occasional spouted the molten fire from fissures to nearly the typical sword-flight altitude.

The volcanoes of the north were a different variety. They did not spew liquid fire for all to see and avoid. They lay quiet, deceptively hidden underneath thick snow and ice until they awoke from their slumber in an explosion that could sometimes be heard as far south as Lotus Pier. When that happened, the skies grew dark and black snow fell, crops suffered, and the water became poisoned. Cultivators needed to work twice as hard to purify the land of its own poisons as well as cleanse the spirits of the those who died from the event.

The Clans avoided the north lands, but not the northern waters. Fish frequented the colder waters at certain times of the year and seafood was both a delicacy and a staple depending on the Clan. Thus, the northern seas were well mapped.

Which led to the second option. Xichen had indeed flown north at first. B his exhausted, fearful mind had latched onto the coastline and followed it rather than the direction he'd been flying in. Xichen was no sailor nor a fisherman, but he'd seen the maps of the northern sea and its chain of islands that stretched from the mainland and out into the northeast. The Smoking Pearls, as these islands were called, were a string of volcanic islands that occasionally erupted with enough force to be noticeable, but small enough to be easily avoided by nearby fishermen.

The waters near these islands were comparably shallower than further south in the open ocean so most fishermen tended to linger in the vicinity during the warmer months when the ice retreated further north. During the winter months, the Smoking Pearls were avoided. The chances of striking hidden sea ice made it too much of a risk.

Which made the possibility that Lan Xichen had flown north, then accidentally arced to the east without ever realizing he'd done so. All because he'd been following the shoreline rather than the hidden stars. It would certainly explain why he'd been so drained of his spiritual energy. He'd flown further than anyone he'd ever read about let alone knew.

He might have continued trying to fly, had Shuoyue not urged him towards the Pelagirs where he could rest and find help. This thumb brushed the jade and wood sheath in fond appreciation and smiled softly at the grateful hum he received in return. Shuoyue was his first-class spiritual weapon and had been with him for many years. She could hold her own and leave him in her dust when she flew unmounted. Bearing his weight, she was slower and more careful, but no less agile or reliable.

He wondered how fast Gala was capable of running?

Smug pride blossomed through his bond with Gala forcing him to press his lips together against the smile that threatened to spread across his face.

Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to last long. Somewhere nearby, sounding as if it was right by his ear -but it couldn't be!- tolled. Xichen didn't understand what the bell meant, but it sent chills up his arms and raised the hairs on the back of his neck. Gala's humor vanished abruptly, startling him. In the corner of his eye, Herald Elcarth also stiffened at almost exactly the same moment.

It had been instinct that made Xichen step away from the desk and draw Shuoyue, his eyes immediately scanning the room around for… What? The source of the grim bell? An enemy he could not see but knew was there? Yet there was nothing.

Horror!

The emotion was powerful and came first from Gala, then from Herald Elcarth, then from everywhere! Xichen staggered under the onslaught before slammed his shields firmly into place. He still had to press a hand to the table, his fingers brushing the Valdemaran letters for Haven. It was a slip that would have cost him during a conference between Clan Leaders and Clan Heirs. He hoped it wouldn't cost him here among strangers who were more open than anyone he had ever met.

"Havens have mercy!" Herald Elcarth cried, darting away.

Xichen wanted to follow, to demand an explanation, but the horrordismaydespair pounded at his shields from all directions. Phantom flames flickered before his eyes, screams he wasn't sure were real echoed in his ears, and emotions roiled like a Waterborne Abyss.

:Xichen!:

Gala's voice pierced his mind and instantly, the invasive emotions were muffled by his Companion reinforcing his shields. What-

:A Herald has died,: Gala said, tears in her voice. :We're trying to find out who it- Hold on.:

That… That was a death bell? Xichen closed his eyes and steadied himself, forcing his distress back and focusing on what he could do, what needed to be done. His expression smoothed to the practiced mask of the First Jade of Lan as he waited for Gala to continue.

:Kris. Havens, it's you Kris and his Companion Tantris both,: Gala said hurriedly. She sounded distracted and her thoughts were scattered as if she was trying to keep up multiple conversations at once. :He was sent to Hardorn with the Queen's Own. It was supposed to be a diplomatic mission but… Oh Havens!:

An accident on the road?

:No. We know more now,: Gala said, her mental presence firm and furious. :He was killed, murdered. We've heard no word from the Queen's Own or her Companion Rolan yet.:

What do you need me to do?

:There's nothing we can do until we know what happened.: Realization rang through Gala's thoughts, settling into fear. :Havens. The Queen is there. Queen Selenay was going to the border to meet him and Talia!:

She was working herself into a tangled mess of emotion. She wasn't alone either. All around him, he could feel the distress of dozens upon dozens of people. If Mindspeech was indeed as common here as he believed it was, and Mindspeech was emotions as well as words, then he had no doubt some of Gala's panic was due to the feedback from others. She might be affected by his own Empathy as well. Xichen could feel everyone around him and Gala could hear messages he couldn't.

This couldn't be allowed to continue. Gala's panic was leaking through their bond into his own mind, compounding on the waves of emotional distress from everyone else, fogging his mind. Her mental presence was so thoroughly tied to his own now that some of his shielding relied on her. With her panic spilling over the shields, it was compromising him.

So he did the only he knew how to do to block out as much of the invasive emotions as possible. Sheathing Shuoyue, Xichen sat down on the stone floor in lotus position, sweeping his sleeves out beside him and resting his sword across his lap. The Vortex below Haven was old, powerful, and steady as a heartbeat. Reaching into it with his spiritual energy, he took a deep breath, and slowly immersed himself in it, allowing the rush of raw energy drown out everything else.

The energy of the Vortex was guided into a continuous pattern by his golden core, swirling through his meridians into his body and back out. Smooth, seamless, harmless. Just another eddy in the energy flowing through the Dragon Lines. Never used, merely immersed. Never swimming, merely floating. Never separate, merely one.

Shock that wasn't his but was so close to him nearly brought him out of his immersion. He caught himself before his concentration slipped and rooted his spiritual cognition and spiritual energy into the stone beneath him for firmly. Then he reached through his new bond and caught Gala's mind, pulling her into the meditative trance with him despite her shocked protests.

The emotional assault faded to a low rumble like distant thunder. Remembered rain hisses as it fell around him, splashing in a remembered pond. A remembered gust before the storm disturbed remembered leaves in the trees and bent the remembered reeds near the banks. It had been a long time since he'd visited this place in person with Wangji by his side, but he remembered it well. Here, it was safe.

How often had be retreated to this mental haven when his control had begun to slip? When he'd begun to feel overwhelmed by the intentions of others, spoken and felt, evil and good? When he had craved but a single moment's peace from the waking, rushing world? When he was but a small boy and needed to cultivate his golden core as early as possible so he wouldn't fail his clan?

Timid surprise brushed his mind, light and gentle as a strand of hair, and Xichen released a sigh he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Gala. It had worked then.

He fought the brief need to push her out, to keep this mental retreat his and Wangji's. No one else's!

But stopped himself a half-second later. It was not her fault. He had been the one to pull her here. He was the one keeping her here.

Soft chiming steps like little, silver bells he recognized as her hoofs rang in the contrived silence of his mental landscape. Opening his eyes, Xichen was greeted by a pair of wide, crystalline blue eyes that stared at him from a living spirit in a horse's body. Her snow white form seemed to glow like moonlight, reflecting off the rippling water of the remembered pond.

"I'm not sure how long I can hold you here with me," Xichen admitted, remaining in his meditative pose in the center of this small, secret pond. "I've never taken anyone else here with me before except for Wangji."

Gala's ears flicked but she said nothing, just stared at him in silence. Xichen reached out to her through their bond and felt her. The panic that had been spiraling uncontrollably was now a simple eddy in a smooth flowing stream. It no longer posed a threat to him or her.

In its place was a stillness that settled between them with the heavy weight of astonishment. He reached out to her with his hand, palm up, in a silent offer. She could refuse and he wouldn't hold it against her. But he wanted to help ground her, help calm her, and help hold themselves strong and immovable against the insanity in the waking world.

Two hesitant steps that sent ripples dancing across the pond's mirror-still surface, and her nose touched his hand. Something delicate and fragile eased in his chest, and Xichen felt his heartbeat slow when he felt her faith in him. There was fear there, mixed with confusion, but she had faith in him. She trusted him.

That was enough.

Closing his eyes once more, he siphoned some of his spiritual energy into her through their bond. He felt her start in surprise, her nose snuffling but never breaking contact. With infinite care, he pulled her presence close and immersed her in the Vortex's energy, his spiritual energy acting as a web of protection from any potential backlash.

Interestingly enough, the Vortex's energy didn't seem to harm her at all. In fact, it seemed to want to flow into her, through her, and around her. As if it wanted to be used by her. As if she could use it with ease and without harm. The energy moved through Gala like spiritual energy moved through a cultivator. Xichen had never seen Dragon Line energy act this way before.

"Are you calm now?" he asked, opening his eyes and gazing up at her in her moonlit glory.

:I am,: she whispered hesitantly. :You are no Mage. How are you doing this?:

He gave her a wane smiled. "I could ask you the same question, dear one," he replied, studying the starlit Vortex energy sparkle through her fur. After a moment, his shoulders drooped with a sigh. "It appears we are more alike than either of us first thought."

Gala hummed and pressed her nose harder against his palm in a nuzzle, her breathtaking blue eyes never leaving his warm amber. :I think I understand now,: she said, awe trickling through her mental voice into his mind. :I see you, Lan Xichen. I see you, my Chosen.:

For a fathomless time, Xichen and Gala remained in this not-place, still and calm. But the peace could not last forever. Xichen could still feel Gala's sorrow over the loss of a Herald. Sorrow was healthy and should not be dismissed.

"Did you know them?" he asked. "The Herald who died."

:Not well,: she admitted. :I knew his Companion Tantris better.:

Xichen pulled her sorrow into him, sharing it and easing the pain as best he could. "The bell, does it ring whenever a Herald dies?"

:It does.: She swished her tail and whickered, nuzzling his hand and stepping even closer.

"And you said the Queen was with him?" Xichen pressed gently.

:No. She was following behind with her entourage at a slower pace.: She flicked her ears and Xichen caught the faint humor in her eyes. :We Companions are much faster than any mere horse.: Just as quickly as it came, the humor faded. :I fear for her. If Herald Kris is dead, then that means it is likely Herald Talia, the Queen's Own, could be in trouble. I have heard nothing from Rolan, Talia's Companion. Thank the Lady the Death Bell tolled only once.:

There was guilt there; guilt that, as Clan Heir, Xichen understood intimately. Death was never something to celebrate. But if a single death could prevent the deaths of many others, then that was a praise-worthy feat.

"How did he die?" Xichen asked.

Gala's tail fell still and her ears drooped. :I do not know.:

"Do you want to know?"

Gala's head popped up, breaking their contact and cutting off the flow of spiritual energy to her from Xichen. The Vortex energy didn't seem to bother her in the slightest as she funneled it away. He should be surprised. It seemed Dragon Line energy seemed to be to Companions what spiritual energy was to cultivators. So he withdrew his hand and rested it on his knee, palm down, and waited.

:Any information we can gather on Herald Kris's death is information we can send to the Queen and warn her of the danger,: Gala said fiercely. :Also,: she pawed at the pond's surface, rustling the reed with the ensuing ripples, :it's not just the Queen. The Heir, Princess Elspeth, is there as well.:

The Heir and the Leader were walking into the danger that killed a Herald. Danger they were completely unaware of. Yes. Xichen knew that feeling intimately.

"Is the Princess Elspeth the only Heir?" he asked softly.

Gala nodded. :She is. For now.:

Then it was more serious than Xichen's situation. Had the massacre at Cloud Recesses succeeded in killing his father and himself, Wangji would have succeeded Xichen as the Clan Leader. He sent a prayer of thanks to his ancestors that Wangji had not been there. Wherever he was, Wangji was alive. He needed to stay that way.

As did the Valdemaran Leader and her Heir.

"This Death Bell," Xichen asked, pondering his options carefully, "is it connected to the souls of the Heralds that die? Or does it just spread the word of their passing?"

Gala remained silent. :I am sorry Chosen,: she said softly, lowering her head. :But some things I cannot say.:

Best to assume it is connected to the fallen Heralds' souls then. It wouldn't hurt to try anyway.

"Will you take me to it?" he asked.

The Companion lifted her head slightly. :Yes,: she said hesitantly. :It's in Companion's Field. Anyone is allowed near it. Though you understand it isn't a preferred destination.:

Such grim places rarely were. "Then I doubt asking a few questions will be a problem," he said simply.

Gala blinked, then listed her head in understanding, her tail beginning to swish excitedly. :The Song of Inquiry? Would that work if he didn't die here?:

"Not always," Xichen admitted. "But if a piece of a soul is attached to something strongly enough then…" He tilted his head slightly. "Perhaps. It's worth a try."

:Oh yes!: Gala agreed, her hooves tapping the water eagerly. :Yes indeed.:

Coming out of a deep, immersive meditation attached to a Dragon Line or Vortex was tedious. Lan Xichen unbound himself from the Dragon Line, one string of energy at a time, and let his mind float away from the Vortex and back into his physical body at its own pace. Anything done with Dragon Line energy required care, attention to detail, and respect for its power and destructive capabilities.

The first thing he was aware of when he felt his mind finally settled into his body, was the silence in the library. He stretched out his fingers then let them relax at the same time he eased his legs from the lotus position to something more comfortable. Another deep breath and he opened his eyes.

Everything was exactly as he'd left it. Maps strewn across the table and chair and two on the floor by his side. The candle on the table corner was burning a little lower than it had before he'd begun meditating. So not much time had passed, perhaps an hour or two.

Shuoyue in hand, Xichen stood and followed Gala's mental guidance to the Death Bell tower in Companion's Field. This may be more of his brother's area of expertise, but Lan Xichen was the Clan Heir and, as such, had been well trained in associating with spirits. He knew the Qin language well.