Disclaimer: The characters and world which this fic takes place in belong to Mercedes Lackey, I state no claim except for the plot among my fellow fanfiction authors.
Chapter 3
Savil nodded dumbly, even though she knew he wasn't expecting an affirmative, and lowered her head to rest her eyes on his boots in a shy manner.
"My name is Vallen, do you know that you have been chosen and what that means?" he asked in a ruff voice that reminded her of something scrapping on sandpaper.
"I think sir, it means I'm going to be a herald." She answered hesitantly.
"It means you're going to be a herald-mage trainee, and I your mentor." He moved his feet just a little, a nervous shuffle she guessed; she glanced up at him through her lashes and wondered why a man that was so powerful would be nervous around her. Then, suddenly, she felt strangely calm, as if her fear had been swept away like a leaf in the wind, and with it gone, she began to notice little things about Vallen that made her want to trust him.
She heard the fall of boots behind her and turned her head to see who it was and saw a tall, somewhat attractive young woman with long blonde hair and bright green eyes in a gray parody of Vallen's white outfit. He nodded his head in her direction and looked down at Savil. "This is Geri, she's a herald-mage trainee aswell as your fellow student and my daughter. Geri, this is Savil.
"Hi" Geri said, a smile as bright as the rising sun spreading across her lips and making her eyes sparkle like polished emerald. "I'm sure you'll enjoy it here, this place is more fun than it looks."
Savil felt herself warming immediately to this woman, who she guessed was probably about 17; and felt as if she had known her all her life, instead of just for a few seconds.
"You two will also be sharing rooms with Mishel, my other student, and another herald trainee. You wont have much room to put personal belongings, but it doesn't appear as if you brought anything useful, so if I were you, I'd get rid of what ever you don't need. Geri will show you where to put your horse and things, and then she'll show you to the workroom after you're settled so I can see what, exactly, is the extent of your powers. In the mean time, I have things to do." And he turned away from them and walked with long, ground devouring strides, down a different hallway opposite the one he'd emerged from.
They both watched him go in silence, then Geri turned to her with that bright smile still on her face. "Lets find something to do with all your stuff, there certainly wont be enough room for it in our quarters, Lady Bright, we have to stuff our uniforms under our beds just to make sure we can find them when we need them. She eyed Serenity for a moment before shrugging. "You wont be needing her anymore, and after riding your companion, you wont want her." Kellan shook her head as if to agree.
Savil wondered if she could part with her precious mare when unexpectedly, the memory flashed before her as if it had only been days ago instead of the three and a half years it was. She'd found her as a foal in an old man's field; she used to work for him, since he was losing the strength in his legs and was having trouble doing certain chores. She'd gone out to feed the horses he kept for breeding and found that one of the pregnant mares had prolapsed. The foal, a paint like her sire, had been lying in the grass. She'd had to help her onto her feet and support the wobbly newborn all the way to the barn, grab a bottle and run back to get the calastrume from the mother. For a few weeks, she had gone back to help the old man hand feed and raise the foal, but one day, she'd gone back, and he hadn't been there, his horses were being taken by neighbors and she'd been nearly frantic trying to figure out who took the little thing. Finally, one of his friends, an old woman, had brought her on a harness and gave the little paint foal to her. From then on, she had paid as much attention to her father's brute beasts, as she did to a blade of grass; now they expected her to just give her up like she was nothing.
:She'd be happier Chosen, you wont have enough time to spend with her, you should give her to someone who does.: Kellan's voice interrupted her thoughts :You have to think about what's best for her, do you really want her, whose been the sole center of your attention since she was born, to just preen away in the stalls? That's no life, she needs someone who can really care for her.:
:I.. I guess you're right, but still, it will be hard to part with her, she.. she's like my best friend.: She thought back sadly, then she felt an emotion flow into her from Kellan, who than reluctantly broke contact and Savil's eyes slowly came back into focus.
The first thing she saw was Geri with a strange look on her face, Savil, thinking she had somehow offended her, started to take a step back, but stopped herself midway. "You can talk to her?" there was a sadness and longing in her voice that twisted Savil's stomach.
"With Kellan, yes, sort of. Why, can't you?" The expression, which Savil now recognized as envy, was replaced by a deep sadness.
"No, I can't talk to Jaydius, I just get pictures and emotions. See empathy, firestarting, and the mage gift are the only ones I have, and my firestarting is so weak I get a reaction headache just trying to light a candle."
Savil didn't know what to say, mainly because she didn't know what any of those words meant, but her pride wouldn't let her ask the questions. Geri sensed that she had nothing to say and forced a smile. "Ah hell, no use complaining about it, I've lived with out mindspeech this long. Come on, let's go put your things away and get you settled in, then I'll take you to the workroom; and don't worry, I'll take care of your horse." She started for the building behind the one Vallen had gone into and Savil followed, tugging slightly on Serenity's reins.
:I'll be in the field Chosen, it's not far and you'll be able to find it easily, just call, I'll be there.: Kellan's voice once again appeared in her head along with a presence she was coming to recognize as the companions.
:Do you really have to go? All right, see you soon, and be well.:
:Same to you, heart-sister.: The presence disappeared and Kellan started back the way they'd came as Savil followed after Geri going the opposite.
*****
Savil closed the heavy oak door nervously, glancing over at the figure that was leaning casually against the wall infront of her. His blue eyes watching her every move like a hawk stalking a rabbit; she didn't like the feeling at all. She tried to reach for Kellan with her mind for support, but found it hurt a little and she couldn't seem to find her presence.
"The bond isn't strong enough yet, you need more physical contact before you can mind-call her at long distances." Vallen pushed himself away from the wall with a foot, coming towards Savil with his arms crossed across his chest. He stopped a few feet away from her and stared down his long nose at her small frame that barely reached his shoulder.
He reached out a hand and placed it on her head, "this may feel a little weird." And that was all the warning she got before a new presence invaded her mind, gently probing all the nooks and crannies with careful mental "hands."
"Those "hands" touched something that felt like thick boiling liquid and the presence snapped out of her mind with a quickness that shocked her into stumbling backwards, away from Vallen. It took a few minutes in which his mouth worked but no sound came out, but finally "Well, that was something of a surprise." He sounded dazed, as if someone had picked up the chair that was in the corner and broke it over his head.
"Wha-What is it?" Savil asked, hoping he didn't notice that stutter. She watched him as he searched for something to say.
"You have four gifts," he said a little reluctantly. "Mindspeech, healing, farsight, and the mage gift-"
"Is that odd?" she interrupted anxiously, hoping he would explain some of what those words meant.
"No, that's not odd; your farsight is weak and your healing is useless. Mindspeech is over average, that's no surprise, but your mage gift…" He trailed off and She suppressed the urge to strangle him. "Your gift is very strong" he continued after a moment in which he groped for words. "I'm one of the most powerful herald mages in the circle, but you… I can teach you enough control that the power wont consume and control you. But, I could never teach you enough to have absolute control, you'll have to struggle to keep a lid on you gift when you lose your temper and get angry." He studied her for a moment, his head cocked to the side. "Judging by the way you came in here and the way your standing now, you have a short temper and are very proud, a bad combination. You're also confused but don't want to admit that you have absolutely no idea what I've been talking about through half this interview, right?" Savil's jaw felt as if it was coming unhinged at the accuracy of his words and quickly clenched her teeth together.
He laughed softly, "Stubborn too, well tomorrow your training will begin, you're afternoons will be in here, and the only way you'll get out of it is if you're on your deathbed. The rest of your classes will be taken with Mishel, she's about your age I'd guess and just starting her training aswell. Now, go spend time with your companion, you'll need to be in physical contact with each other for the bond to fully develop, the first few hours are crucial. When you hear a bell, that means it's almost lunch and I'll be presenting you to the King so hurry back to the student quarters, there should be a pair of grays there, change and meet me here okay?" She nodded and he gave her a satisfied smile. "That's good, now out, and as for your questions, ask your companion, you'll get more understanding from her and maybe she can prepare you for tomorrow. Now go, she'll be in the field, just follow the road to the right of this building and you'll find it."
"Okay" Savil answered excitedly and then rushed out of the work room as fast as she could in a mad dash to get to the field to try and spend as much time as she could with Kellan.
*****
Savil followed Vallen's instructions and ran straight down the path until she came to a field that looked more like a very large park. Since she still couldn't sense Kellan's presence, and it felt like she was stretching a sore muscle when she tried, she whistled to get her attention instead. Three snowy white heads lifted and looked towards her, their silver manes shining in the perfect autumn sun. One broke away from the group and trotted happily in her direction as Kellan's presence once again settled comfortably in the back of her mind.
:Lovely day to thee Chosen.: Savil felt a smile tugging the corners of her mouth up at just being with the companion and made no move to conceal it. Kellan's voice was soothing and made her want to forget all her worries; which she was only to willing to do.
"Same to you" she replied, walking closer to her and placing her forehead against Kellan's. She stood like that for awhile, not thinking of anything except how comforting it was just to be by her. Until Kellan gently took her tunic in her teeth and jerked her head to the side, pulling Savil around to her shoulder.
That was all the prompting she needed; putting one hand on her neck, she grabbed a fist full of hair, braced, then swung up onto Kellan's back and settled. Together, they moved further into the field until the buildings that they left behind became the size of doll houses.
"Kellan, I have a question." Savil said hesitantly, reluctant to break the comforting silence.
:Ask away.:
"What do the gifts mean? Like empathy and firestarting, or the mage gift and farsight? I don't understand." Kellan cocked her head back and to one side so that she was looking at Savil out of one sapphire eye.
:The gifts? Well, empathy deals with emotions see, a strong empath can manipulate emotions, others can only sense what someone is feeling.: She turned her head back around to watch where she was going. :Firestarting is just what it says, only you're starting the fire with your mind, farsight is when you can see things that are far away. And the mage gift is the ability to see and manipulate energy, also known as magic; understand?:
"I do now, thank you. Geri and Vallen also both said that I have mindspeech, is that what makes it possible for you to talk to me?"
:I could talk to you whether you had it or not but it's not very easy for us and so we don't usually do it. No, what that is, is the ability to read minds and to talk mind to mind with others with the same gift.: She stopped next to a running stream and shook her head, making her mane brush against Savil's chin. :Now get off please.: and Savil slid off her bare back and landed noiselessly beside her. Kellan pranced away from her and then dropped gracelessly and began rolling merrily in the grass. Savil giggled and Kellan stopped while on her back and looked up at her, rolled her eyes, snorted, and then went back to rolling. Savil sat down in the soft grass and watched as the blades waved gently in the breeze, thinking that life was like this field, and people were just blades of grass that bend in the wind.
:Bend Chosen, but never break, and when the wind ceases to blow, they continue their never ending reach for the sun.: Kellan's voice was cheerful and infected Savil's mind with happiness. Smiling again, Savil laid back with her hands behind her head and starred up at the clouds slowly moving across the sky. She felt her eyes start to droop and her mind started to drift into a doze, but Kellan had other ideas than a nap as she jumped into the creek, spraying water up and whickering tauntingly. Savil sat bolt upright and gaped at her in shock.
:If there were any flies around, frogs would be very mad at you.: Kellan teased, dancing in place with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. Savil started to laugh and Kellan bucked playfully and pranced in a circle, kicking up dried grass and stirring up insects that had settled there.
"You know, the only thing that separates you from humans is the shape you take." She said, and then plopped back down, "And I'm not getting up, I happen to be quite comfortable right here." Kellan made a sigh as heartfelt and hopeless as any young woman that knows she's been defeated.
:Stubborn!: was the only reply Kellan gave, but it was with the same good humor as before, and she walked happily over to Savil and sat down as graceful as any lady of court. Savil looked over at her and laughed, Kellan tilted her head to the side in confusion. :what?:
"You have grass in your hair" She reached out a finger and picked out a blade of yellowed grass and smiled at Kellan's feigned look of shock.
"I do believe you do too" Savil jumped and turned quickly to see who had managed to sneak up behind her to see an unbelievably handsome boy in student grays. He shrugged apologetically, and smiled, the sun reflecting in his chocolate brown eyes as the breeze played gently with short, straight black hair. "I'm sorry if I startled you, my names Erik, what's yours?"
"Savil" she answered suspiciously, raising an eyebrow at his pretty face that, to her at least, could be hiding so many ugly secrets.
:Don't be ridiculous, he's a herald trainee, like you!: Kellan snapped, shaking her head in annoyance at Savil's absentmindedness.
Sensing the uneasiness in her voice, he smiled more charmingly, and under Kellan's words and his gaze, her icy walls melted and she smiled back somewhat reluctantly.
"May I join you, it's starting to get a bit lonely, just me and Drinand?" Savil looked beside him and noticed the companion that seemed to be eyeing her with amusement, as if he knew something she didn't.
"Sure, I don't mind, Kellan doesn't either."