Disclaimer: The characters and world which this fic takes place in belong to Mercedes Lackey, I state no claim except for the story among my fellow fanfiction authors.
Chapter 6
Savil walked slowly to Companions Field, clenching a piece of paper in her hand as the dreary rain -which would turn to snow before nightfall- fell from heavy gray clouds, pelting her mercilessly and plastering her hair to her face. How nice, a climate to match my mood, aren't the Gods thoughtful. She thought sarcastically as she clasped the paper even harder. Sighing angrily, she loosened her grip on the letter, straightened it out, and held it up to read it one more time.
To: Herald-Mage Trainee, Savil Ashkevron
From: Lady Karen Ashkevron
My dearest Savil, I'm very proud of you, and I hope that you are happy with your new life. My heart weeps to tell you this, but your brother Withen will not be sending a letter back to you. When I was reading your letter to him, he took it from me and tore it to pieces. He has become a copy of Lord Joserlin, though he has applied himself diligently to his responsibilities -for which I am grateful- he has acquired some of his less-attractive attributes aswell, including and especially, his low respect for women. Withen has also taken to spending his after evening meal time with my sister and the maids to insult you; I defend you as often as possible, but it is to no avail. One of my close friends has a daughter about his age, I've arranged for her to visit and she will be here for about a fortnight. I hope that Withen takes to her, perhaps she can straighten him out. Write me back soon please, as a child I dreamed of being Chosen and I wish to know all the details.
By my hand and the Ashkevron seal
Your loving mother, Lady Karen
She crumpled the letter without even realizing it, I can't believe him! She thought angrily, but never finished the thought for Kellan was waiting at the fence.
*****
Savil threw herself down on the bed, exhausted from weapons practice, the weapons master had used her for a demonstration and she could of swore through half of it that she would faint from strain. She has it in for me, I swear it! Gods I'm so sore even me hair hurts!
She was about to get up to bathe, when suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Come in," she called; the door swung open slowly and a trainee in gray about her age walked in with two letters. "Just put those on the table right there, thanks Jelsi." She said, recognizing that the herald-page was one of her close friends -a highborn that had been raised in the city; the only child of a very loving father, her mother had died giving birth to her and as a result, she had been spoiled rotten, she'd never had to raise a hair to fend for herself if she didn't wish it-.
The girl smiled and set the letters down as she was instructed. "No problem Savi" she replied, using the nickname that had seem to spread through the entire collegium one day. "Looks like you got one from Erik" she said, just a little enviously, as she eyed the topmost letter. "how is it going between you two anyway?"
Savil thought that over for a moment before answering. "Well, we haven't stepped beyond the bounds of friendship yet, but it does seem as though they're being stretched." She shrugged dismissing the topic and half smiled. "How is it between you and that new Healer? What was his name, Andrel?"
Jelsi blushed, "well, gee you know what, I have other letters I'm supposed to deliver, so I-I'll see you later okay Savil. Bye." She stammer, before turning quickly and escaping out the door at almost a run.
She's so modest isn't she? Savil thought, and wasn't in the least surprised to find an answering voice in her mind.
:That she is Chosen: Kellan 'said' :she's never been in an intimate relationship like this before and she's still nervy about what to do.:
:That's understandable, not everyone was raised in such a worldly family.: Savil replied, reaching for the letter on top as she reached for a piece of cheese with the other.
She unfolded the paper and read it over quickly, eager to get up and get her bath over before she began to smell to bad.
To: Herald-Mage Trainee, Savil Ashkevron
From: Herald-Mage Trainee, Erik Forchette
Hello Savil,
Do you have anything planned for tonight? If not, hurry up and bathe and meet me at Companions Field, on the bridge. I'll be waiting there, I need to tell you something.
Erik
Savil folded the letter a different way than it had originally been and jumped up from her sitting position on her bed, cheese still in mouth, she grabbed her wool robe, extra change of grays, and ran down to the bath house.
*****
Erik paced nervously back and forth on the bridge over the Terilee River, resisting the urge to bite his nails, a bad habit he'd been trying to get rid of since he'd been Chosen, but so far to no avail.
He couldn't believe it, he'd be leaving for internship tomorrow morning; it seemed asthough he'd just arrived, even though it had been four years, counting the five and a half months he should have had left.
Gods where was she? He wanted to talk to Savil, to tell her what was going on, tonight would be his last chance to tell her anything. It had been such short notice, one minute he was planning what he'd do for the next five months, the next he finds out he's leaving tomorrow and to pack the things he'll need.
:Don't get so worked up Chosen, You knew that you would be going earlier than most because of how far ahead you are of them. Your ability to consume knowledge like you do your food has left your teachers very happy with you, they believe that you are ready and so do I.: Drinand said reassuringly inside his head. Erik stopped his senseless pacing and placed a hand on his Companion's arched neck for comfort.
:It's not really that I don't think I can do it,: he replied :It's just that they're not really giving me a lot of time to say goodbye.:
:I know, I just wanted you to know that I support you and that I love you, also, if you want to start a more intimate relationship with Kellan's Chosen, I support you there aswell.: Erik felt tears coming to his eyes and forced them back down, he didn't want his eyes going bloodshot now; but he sent the feelings that had caused those tears to form to Drinand and hugged him. The Companion's snowy white neck curved around him as he gave his Chosen the closest thing to a return hug as he could, then pulled away slowly to look across the bridge.
:She's here Chosen.: Erik pulled away and wiped the tears that had managed to surface regardless of his efforts with the back of his hand.
Savil sat on Kellan's bare back like the of Queen of Ice; her trainee garb that of the lightest gray, her wet hair tied behind her with a gray hood over her head, probably to keep her hair from collecting ice. Her posture was that of royalty he'd bet even the Queen would envy, and Kellan almost seemed to be part of the snow, her shining coat blended perfectly. Erik was surprised at the beauty he felt while watching them, winter spirit, or an ice fairy, he didn't know what to call her, but at that moment she didn't look quite human.
He realized how his initial reaction to her stubborn, mulish face had been incorrect because she was beautiful, if you could get her away from the comparison between the artificial pretties of court, she was a beauty fit for a God, surely not him. She dismounted gracefully, seeing how equitation was her best class, it wasn't a surprise that she looked so… enchanting, while riding Kellan. But once on the ground, the other-world grace left her and she became a mortal once more, though the feelings he'd experienced while thinking that she was some long forgotten sprit princess still lingered, only now they grew stronger because she was a mortal and she was within his grasp.
"You… had something to tell me?" Savil asked, shuffling nervously.
"Just that… You know how I was supposed to be leaving in the next five months or earlier?" She nodded and raised an eyebrow. "Well it's earlier, I'm leaving-"
"Early tomorrow" his mouth fell open and he stared at her in shock, he was about to ask how, but she waved her hand and answered first. "It's all over the collegium, Elspeth told me."
"Oh…" well, that changed what he was going to say. Savil leaned heavily on the board railing, looking down at the rapidly moving water sadly.
"It's going to be different without you here." She whispered. Kellan came up and nuzzled the side of her face before her and Drinand left over the bridge and trotted to a secluded part of the field. Erik immediately shielded against his Companion and noticed Savil doing the same. Kellan and Drinand had taken a particular interest in one another over the last few days, not unpredicted since their Chosen had become so close, but it made it harder for Erik to keep his feelings for Savil hidden.
"They're like rabbits." Savil said suddenly, gentle laughter in her voice, he smiled warmly at her. She looked sideways at him and arched an eyebrow suspiciously, "what?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing, just… thinking… how beautiful you look." He said hastily, though that was only a small part of what he was thinking.
"Flatterer." She said, turning her attention back to the water.
"It's not flattery if it's true." He replied sincerely, she looked at him again, this one of mild surprise and amusement.
"Do you really believe that?" He smiled and nodded his head.
"You know I do."
"I think there's something wrong with your eyes." She replied easily, though he thought he'd heard pain beneath the gentle amusement.
"Do I have to show you that I'm serious?" he asked her in a whisper, moving so that he was standing beside her, she starred up at him surprised, but then began to smile slowly.
"You can try, but it might take a lot to convince me."
"I'm willing to try all night." They both moved closer to each other, but just when their lips were about to meet, the sounds of wild snarls and yelps made them both jump.
What in the nine hells… Before Erik knew, Savil was running towards the sounds, he tried to grab her arm, but she alluded his grasp without even knowing he was reaching for her. What is she doing?!
She dashed straight down the path and turned around the building, he was a pace or two behind her, and when he came onto the scene, he stopped and starred.
*****
Savil watched through eyes that felt as if they had fallen out of their sockets, vision slowly going red with unexplainable rage as she clenched and unclenched her hands that had dropped to her side. Before her stood two highborn boys, one held a bloody horsewhip and was laughing with the other as they watched the large hunting hounds they'd set on one medium sized mongrel attempt to tear it apart. The mutt was fighting desperately and had took down one of the four dogs, but the wounds from the whip were obviously affecting it and he was slowly falling.
Savil, without thinking, exerted her magical ability, not yet trained and without control, to throw the creatures off the one beneath. Two hit the buildings with a yelp and landed limply on the ground, the other flew straight for the boy with the whip and hit him in the stomach, knocking them both backwards. The animal they'd been taking there sport out on stood on shaky legs for a moment after, snarling threateningly, lips lifted till they folded over his muzzle and revealing their underside. Finally, his weak legs crumpled under him and he fell to the ground with a whine. She ran to him, recognizing the black and white dog that seemed to appear where ever she went, and checked his wounds hastily. He managed a weak growl, but the threatening meaning was put off by the weak up then down of his crooked tail in greeting.
She tore a piece of her cloak straight across the bottom and wrapped it around the dog's under-chest -where he was bleeding badly and she could see a piece of the ribs- before picking him up and cradling him to her. Erik came up behind her, a worried expression on his face while the other boy turned white and escape down the street as fast as his short pudgy legs could carry him.
"Do you think that's a good idea?" he asked, starring down at the mutt's menacing eyes that starred defiantly into his, not turning them aside when Erik glared back.
"He wont hurt me." She said confidently, walking towards the Healing Collegium and silently praying that someone with the healing the gift didn't think themselves to high to help animals.
*****
The red haired healer trainee tied the bandages securely around the hind leg and stood from his bent over position. "Well, that should do for now, just make sure that he doesn't chew the bindings, I've soaked them in a liquid that should discourage that, but sometimes they're pretty determined." He said with a laugh; Savil scrutinized his work before smiling reluctantly.
"I must admit, I was worried when they assigned you to help him, but it seems that you've done well. For all I know about doctoring anyways." She finished with a shrug, She got an answering smile from the young healer.
"Animals are apprentice work, many of the full Healers consider creatures unworthy of their talent, but many of the trainees will be happy to help." He patted the top of the dogs head and a deep chest growl answered the gesture of kindness. "Well… I guess we're done here." He said, snatching his hand back before the mutt got the idea that it would serve better between his fangs. "You should take him back to the Herald collegium now, and make sure that you can keep him, I've never heard of any one having an actual pet there before and they might not let you."
Savil let out a growl to match the dogs. "They better! Or they'll have to find themselves a new Herald trainee!" And she picked the dog up gingerly, who whined softly and turned his head slightly to lick her face. "Thank you." she said as she exited through the animal side of the building and made her way towards the Herald's Collegium.
He just smiled and began cleaning up the mess left behind without a word.
*****
"What!" Vallen barely restrained himself from shouting. The dog Savil had brought it raised it's head from it's limp position on his paws and snarled savagely, somehow making it clear that if he could walk, Vallen would be missing an appendage or two.
"I want to keep him in the room with me." Savil repeated calmly, though it sounded like forced calm. Erik stood behind her, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and shrugged his shoulders up when he noticed his teacher looking at him.
"But-What- It's an animal!" he blurted pathetically, for lack of a better reason.
"So, so are the Companions." Savil replied without thinking.
:I resent that.: Kellan said dryly in the back of her mind, Savil sent a her mental hug before answering.
:You are in the body of a horse love, and horses are animals, even if your mind is just as human as mine.:
:If not more.: The Companion replied with the same tone, but sighed and returned the mental hug before disconnecting.
Vallen through up his hands in defeat, "Fine! But if the other trainees complain, you'll have to do something else with him." Savil smiled and refrained from dancing around the room in joy only because she didn't want to look like a complete fool.
"Thank you!" she said instead, so happy her voice sounded choked, "Oh thank you!" She scooped up the mutt from his place on the floor and carried him up the stairs as quickly as she could. Erik opened the door for her when they got to the room she shared with Geri, Mishel, and Elspeth and deposited the animal as carefully as she could on her bed, stroking his head gently.
"You sure are a lucky dog aren't you?" she asked him quietly, he whined softly and Savil laughed, as if struck with lightning and found it funny. "Right, not so lucky, but…" she trailed off and stared at him. The tip of his tongue showed from between black lips and revealed not-fully developed teeth, showing that he wasn't yet of a year. "Lucky… I think that's what I'll call you, it's kind of an irony but it fits." His tail went up then down.
"You talk to him as if he can understand you." Erik said from behind her, the dog -Lucky- ignored him completely as Savil scratched him behind his pointed ear.
"Maybe he can…" she replied absently.
"So… I'll… see you tomorrow before I leave?" He asked, he'd had plans on how to spend his last night, but it looked as though it would be alone.
"Sure…" She said, completely absorbed in making sure the dog was comfortable.
"Well… Bye, I guess." And he turned to leave.
After the door was closed, Savil stroked the dog's black head and whispered. "Bye…"