Vanyel woke immediately at
the sound of footsteps in the room. Momentarily confused and disoriented, he
reacted-jumping up and preparing to call a magebolt upon the perceived threat.
Suddenly, something caught his attention. Beds. There weren't beds on the
front. Where…? At the last second, he pulled the blow, sending the channeled
energies into the ground.
"Enjoying your
nap?" Sandoval asked, his displeasure at the mid-afternoon slumber
apparent even to Vanyel in his half dazed state. Vanyel shook his head
slightly, ignoring the inflection Sandoval had placed on the words.
He had almost killed the man!
Another moment and he would
have, inadvertently killing an innocent. There was no way Sandoval could
protect himself from a mage attack. He had to calm down…
"Don't ever
surprise me like that again," Vanyel said sharply. Sandoval stopped,
staring at him, the sharpness of Vanyel's comment mirrored in his cold glare.
Vanyel met it for a moment, then smiled, realizing what Sandoval was wearing.
"The hertasi finally got their way?" he asked, laughing.
Sandoval scoffed, glancing at
the midnight blue and silver garment he wore.
Vanyel sat back down on the
bed. Sandoval looked much nicer than he'd imagined in that outfit-the hertasi
had chosen well. The silken material seemed to flow around him, the rich silver
contrasted his black hair. Raven black. He smiled. Raven… "I can see
you're not pleased." Vanyel forced himself not to laugh. "I can try
to retrieve your clothing but the hertasi will not be very cooperative.
They are experts in fashion, and are not fond of what you were wearing. Even if
I do succeed in retrieving them, you will have to fight this battle everyday…
Do no worry, your clothes will be well taken care of and returned when you wish."
"Some lizard just stole
my clothes!" Lili stormed into the room, eyes wide in disbelief. Vanyel
was no longer able to control his laughter.
"I believe," he
said, attempting to stop laughing, "that you have met a hertasi.
They are the shy lizard folk who take care of the Vale in exchange for the
Tayledras' protection. You have nothing to fear from them. They are harmless
and they are very…timid-they prefer to be alone with their own kind. You will
want nothing with them around." He paused momentarily. "Regarding
your clothing, it is as I have been telling Sandoval. They will be returned to
you whenever you wish, but the hertasi will not rest until you are
wearing clothes they approve of. It seems they have chosen well for you."
Vanyel motioned to the outfit Lili was wearing. Based off a scout's uniform, it
consisted of tight black pants and a fitted burgundy tunic. Lili smiled
tentatively, seeming unsure of the compliment.
"Where's Da'an?"
Sandoval asked accusingly, a challenge obvious in his tone.
"Headed to the practice
field with Yfandes last I saw," Starwind answered him, entering the room.
"I believe Yfandes has
taken it upon herself to instruct him," Moondance added, directly behind
Starwind. "Goddess help him."
Vanyel smiled. "Thank
Haven, she needs something to do besides nag on me."
"I don't
understand…" Lili said, sitting down. The others in the room followed her
lead.
"Your friend is
beginning his mage training," Starwind explained. He shook his head
slightly, dismissing the topic. "Perhaps you will tell me how it is that
you arrived here…"
Lili looked to Sandoval as if
for permission. Receiving nothing from him, she began to recount their story.
"It is interesting that
it would be storming on your world," Starwind observed when she was done.
"Gates often bring on nasty weather because they disrupt the natural
energy flow. He looked to Moondance. "The other Council members should be
informed of all this."
"But not tomorrow,"
Moondance cautioned. "They don't need to be puzzling over this when
they're trying to divert a line."
"Divert a line?"
Vanyel asked. "No one told me anything about planning to divert a
line."
Moondance smiled at him,
knowingly. "You are in no condition to deal with the Heartstone. If we had
told you, you would have insisted on helping."
"I'm perfectly capable
of…" he started.
"You're not,"
Moondance interrupted him, "and you know it. You cannot hide that fact
from me."
Vanyel sighed. Moondance was
completely right…
"We should go."
Starwind rose. "There's much that should be done before tomorrow…"
Moondance nodded, and followed him from the room.
"Certainly seems to be a
popular place," a female voice said as someone entered the structure but
moments after the other two had left.
Vanyel looked up, trying to
place the voice… "And what brings you here, Sundance?"
A small falcon shot in the
door and alighted easily on her arm, quickly taking a perch on her shoulder.
Small by bondbird standards, it was still larger than 'natural' falcons. Small because
Sundance's figure demanded it. She was petite, small and compact. From a
distance she appeared dainty, though he knew all too well that she was not… One
had no trouble determining where she drew her use name from; Sundance fit her
perfectly. She seemed to glow with an inner light, which radiated from her,
touching all those nearby. He suspected there was very little that could
extinguish her internal 'fire.' As for her talents, she was graced with the
Gift of Empathy, but had chosen not to develop it. Vanyel doubted that there
was another scout that loved their work half as much as she did.
"I must say I'm
surprised," she continued, scratching the back of her bondbird's neck. The
falcon half closed his eyes, relishing every second. "From the way it looked
earlier, I hadn't expected to see Starwind or Moondance again for quite a
while." She smiled at the thought. "Actually, I came to see if you
were tired of being cooped up in the Vale. I was about to head out…"
"Starwind and Moondance
told you to keep my busy, didn't they?"
"Of course," she
replied, not missing a beat. "They don't want you around while they're
preparing for tomorrow. It's either this, or I get someone to cover for me and
we go to my ekele…"
Vanyel smiled. She knew very
well he wasn't interested. That was one of the things he missed when he wasn't
here. Valdemar was so much more 'prim and proper' about these things… After
that, the Tayledras' nonexistent sense of modesty was…refreshing. As was their
complete acceptance of those who were shaych…
"To talk," she
added, teasing.
"I'm sure," he
countered her. "I'd love to accompany you on your rounds."
"We'll be back
early," she promised. "Moondance says you need sleep."
Rising, Vanyel sighed. Had
Moondance told everyone in the Vale of his condition? He glanced to Lili
and Sandoval. Hopefully they would be able to entertain themselves for the
remainder of the day… Without a word, he turned from them and followed Sundance
form the room.
***
"Hertasi, lizard
people, ekeles, bondbirds… I don't want to know, I just don't…"
Lili said, turning back to the room.
"You still wish to
remain here?" Sandoval asked, glancing again at his clothes, displeasure
evident on his face.
"No!" she snapped
quickly. "But do you have any better idea? I don't see that we have any
choice."
"Nor do I. Still there
must be some way."
Lili fingered the blanket
which had caught her attention yesterday. Yesterday. It seemed so long ago, yet
but a moment passed at the same time. "With the shuttle destroyed, I don't
see how."
Sandoval shook his head.
Perhaps we should center our efforts on solving that problem…" Lili
glanced at him then sat down again, making herself comfortable. She had the
feeling this could be a long discussion…
***
:Are you awake?: Vanyel stirred, waking at Yfandes' voice in his head.
:I am now. What time is
it?: he asked, not bothering to open
his eyes.
:Late. I couldn't sleep.: Vanyel tried not to grumble. Since when was he
responsible for baby sitting his Companion…? :I heard that,: she teased.
:Did you enjoy your walk with Sundance?:
:Yes, actually. We were
tracking the pack of wyrsa the
scouts spotted the other day.:
:Take it you didn't find
them.:
:No, and it suits me just
fine. Let someone else deal with the wyrsa.:
He rolled over, flinching as he hit a strained muscle. :Not used to climbing
trees, though.:
:Don't complain,: she snorted. :You could have spent the entire day
on the practice field trying to teach Da'an how to center and ground. Did you
know he changes colors when he concentrates? Turns blue…:
:Would you go to sleep?: he asked, annoyed.
:No. I told you, I can't,: she insisted.
:Are you part of the
conspiracy against me too?:
:Hummm?: Yfandes asked innocently. For some reason he didn't
believe her.
:Starwind and Moondance.
They're doing everything in their power to keep me as far away from the
Heartstone as possible.:
:Oh, yes, diverting the
line tomorrow. One of their mages turned up sick today and they asked me to
anchor in his place…:
:And?: he interrupted.
:And I said yes. Why
wouldn't I?: She paused. :As for
you staying away form the Heartstone, I agree.:
:I'm perfectly fine!: he protested.
:Yeah.: He caught the sarcasm she attached to her reply. :Either
way, forget about it. If you are too exhausted to handle it, as we all
think you are, then keeping you out of the matter decreases the already large
risk. If we're wrong and you've recovered enough, keeping you away only saves
you work.:
:Would you please go to
sleep?: Vanyel insisted. Fighting
with her was maddening! She always had a reply, whether or not it was right.
Yfandes was quiet for a time, and he hoped she had decided to leave him alone.
:I know there is a deeper
connection between us. There is too much in common…: she started again, shattering his hopes.
:Who?: Vanyel asked, rolling over and shoving his head under
the pillow. He might as well humor her; perhaps she'd go away sooner.
:Da'an,: she snapped, amazed that he would have to ask.
:You know,: he said, letting feelings of amusement travel across
their bond. :I think you've fallen in love with this 'two-legged'
Companion.:
:I've done nothing of the
sort!: she exclaimed, indignant. :Besides,
it is you who has a crush on his attaché.: 'Fandes paused and he
could feel her mood change. :There are stories my people tell that mention
others like him…that relate our interaction with them…: Vanyel knew that
she didn't necessarily refer to her current state. Appearances could be so
deceiving. :I wish we were back at Haven, I could ask Ragan. It's been so
long since I've heard those stories; I've forgotten. But he knows them well…:
:Can I go back to sleep
now?:
:Oh, of course.: She seemed to just realize that she had been keeping
him up. :I didn't mean to keep you awake so long.: Vanyel shook his head
slightly. Sure she hadn't. :Good night, beloved. Sleep well. And stay out of
the way tomorrow, you're not up to it and this is supposed to be a rest…:
:No problem. I think I'll
be asleep.:
***
Sandoval stopped along the
path, taking a seat on a conveniently placed rock. A large bird settled on a
nearby branch. It cocked its head, studying him and screamed-seeming to demand
his attention. Damn bird; it had insisted on following him around incessantly.
Ignoring his feathered 'shadow,' he surveyed the area. At least he was
somewhere he knew, close nearby the 'Heartstone' Starwind had shown them
yesterday.
Sandoval shook his head at
the thought. He'd spent the entire night discussing 'leaving' with Lili. She
was convinced that Da'an was right and that leaving was impossible-at least for
now. She was willing to trust these people to find them a way back home. And
Da'an… He'd come in well past dark and found them in deep conversation. While
he had refused to voice an opinion on the matter, Sandoval was experienced
enough in reading the Taelon to see his displeasure at the thought of leaving.
Was he the only one to realize that they couldn't stay here?
The bird screeched again,
hopping to another branch. This time there was an answer somewhere down the
path. A slightly familiar female voice called out in a language he didn't
understand. He turned towards the direction it had come from and moments later
a figure emerged from the brush. It was the woman he'd met yesterday. What had
Vanyel called her? Sundance?
"Oh," she said,
switching to English. "I'm sorry. I thought you were Wintersong. I've been
trying to catch up with him all morning." Sundance glanced at the bird
perched on the branch. "Who's your friend?"
Sandoval followed her gaze.
"I do not know, nor do I care. He's followed me all morning."
Sundance studied the bird
closely, then looked to Sandoval, smiling slightly. He had the uneasy feeling
she knew something he didn't.
"I would love to stay
and talk, but I'm headed out with the other scouts to make sure that pack of wyrsa
doesn't wander this way…" She stopped, realizing that he didn't understand
or care. She glanced at the bird again. "You might want to talk to
Starwind about your friend." Turning away from him, she launched the
falcon on her arm into the air and disappeared down the path.
Sandoval watched her leave.
She was definitely…different. And she reminded him how little he actually knew
about this place. Wyrsa, these birds they all carried, their unfamiliar
language, the odd naming scheme… He knew nothing-nothing about these people or
their culture. How could he be content to merely stay here with them? He didn't
belong here, he belonged…at Zo'or's side. If they remained here, he lost any leverage
he'd gained with the Taelon. He was no good to the Synod leader here… Sighing
softly at their plight, Sandoval stood, walking in the opposite direction from
Sundance. Now, if he could just find his way back to their quarters…
A few moments later, he emerged
in a large field containing the Heartstone. The entire area was silent. Two
concentric rings of people, including the 'Companion' Yfandes, surrounded the
upright stone. Another group stood a ways off, watching. No words were spoken
among them. Sandoval surveyed the people, spotting Moondance. He stood off to
the side with the others, intently focused on Starwind who was part of the
inner circle. Silently, he went to stand beside him. Moondance gave him only a
cursory glance-seeming to warn him to remain silent.
He stood, watching-curious as
to what held these people's attention so completely. They did not move, they
did not talk. It seemed that they did not breathe. Those in the circles stood,
their eyes closed. Those outside looked upon them, seeming to note every
detail. Minutes passed like hours, the tension tangible in the air.
Without warning, Sandoval
felt a slight change in the air around him. Almost unperceptiable, it was
indescribable-more a feeling than an actual change… Suddenly blinding pain
exploded in his head, spreading through his body like a wave. He screamed in
agony and fell to his knees-unable to stand any longer. What…? He flinched as
dizziness joined the pain, clouding any thoughts he may have had. Every nerve
was afire, a slow, smoldering fire that engulfed his entire being-leaving
nothing behind but the pain…
***