Disclaimer: Don't own it. Wish I did. Don't sue. Don't get offended.

Thanks: MOM- I love you Tony-o: I know you hate me calling you that-chill   Miss Sharp: for putting up with me.

Sophia

There weren't many times that Sophia used her Heraldic privileges. It just wasn't in her nature to take advantage of the responsibilities that were placed on her shoulders. There were some times, however when she just let it rip. This was one of them.

"I don't care what you want Lord Granter, she will be attending this council sessions, all of the future council sessions, and any other council sessions that I deem appropriate."

"You can't do that it."

"Yes my lord, I can."

"That's not right"

"It's my prerogative"

He stomped away, furious. Sophi sighed; she knew it was authoritarian and dictatorial.  Some things just needed to be. Hoshi's gift would be invaluable in the council chamber. The Councilors just needed to learn how to accept that. Any other point was moot.

Sophia started to walk, aimlessly as she usually did. Her gift seemed to work better if she wasn't concentrating on using it. The occasional long, aimless ramble around the palace grounds often led to more productive situations than any scheduled counseling session she'd ever done. People sometimes just needed an ear to listen more than a mouth to respond.

"Hoshi?"

"Hai"

"How goes it?"

"How goes what?"

"It's just an expression. How are you doing?'

"Good" she replied shortly. Prolonged conversation was like pulling teeth.

"I'm glad to hear it."

"You come here often" It wasn't a question, more like a statement of fact.

"Yes, I do"

"Why?"

"Sometimes my gift works better when I'm walking."

"They do that?"

"Sometimes" Hoshi grunted and let it slide. There was something very different about Hoshi. Not just her being from out-Kingdom, but like she was always thinking somewhere else.

"I talked Lord Granter into letting you sit in on the Council meetings." Sort of.

"Why?"

"I thought your gift might be helpful"

"It will be"

"Is this another of those ' if I don't say anything, it will happen' type things"

"Yes"

"How do you do that?"

She gave a laconic shrug "It does it, not me"

"Where are you supposed to be now?" It was the middle of the afternoon, not a time she usually would have been on break.

"Riding"

Sophia couldn't help a smile "What does Donni have to say about that?"

Hoshi shrugged again "Nothing"

"She lets you skip class"

"Yes"

Suddenly Hoshi's eyes slid blank. Even behind the glasses Sophia could see that she wasn't 'seeing' anything. The stick that Hoshi had aimlessly been poking into the ground started to move with purpose. She started etching a map into the ground; it was Valdemar - Karsite sectors one and two. Sophia knew that map anywhere. She had stared at it for years, trying to figure out how to protect the border from raids.

Hoshi kept drawing in the dirt, symbols Sophia had seen from the Lord Marshal. Legions of troops, battalions of cavalry, even a few priest-magicians scattered around for effect. They started to move, past Sweetsprings into the border post roads and beyond, into the capital. The Evendim border was marked with a few, sporadic attacks nothing like the massive assault that formed along the Karsite sectors.

Hoshi snapped out of whatever trancelike state she'd been in.

"What will be, will be.

                    As I will so I foresee"

"I'm going to go get Hardin"

Cymatia

Mattie had foal watch. She actually enjoyed it; she was from the Evendim area and never really had much of a chance to play with animals as a kid. There had been a big commotion that afternoon, near the corral. The entire council, right down to Lord Granter and his fancy brocaded slippers, were circled around in the dirt looking at something. The area had been blocked off, no one was allowed near it and there were guards there to keep people away.

It wasn't anything she had to worry about, though. No old graybeard playing in the dirt could ruin her foal watch. There weren't any mares really expected to drop tonight, Mattie could just sit and read and be comfortable and content with life in the Heraldic Circle.

"Hoshi! What are you doing here?"

"Karse will attack in a weeks time, I need to get to warn the border"

"Who? What? Karse? Now what do you mean? Wait, damn it, I'm not done here. What the hell are you doing?"

"I must go warn them"

"Alone! What in the hell are you thinking? Go tell the Lord Martial or the King or someone who can do something."

" I did tell them, they did nothing. You saw. Just sit in the ground and poke."

"The corral, what's there?"

"A map. I draw it. They sit and poke and talk and poke, but do nothing."

"How long do we have?"

"Week"

"You'll never be able to do it alone"

"I try"

"You'll die"

"Then I die trying"

"No. Wait. We're Heralds, damn it, we stick together. Hold on."

: Hey graybeard:

: Yes:

: Use your little Companion thing and get all of us together out here:

: There are only ten Heralds in residence. I don't see the point:

: Get the trainees then:

: You are out of your minds:

: Do it:

            "I just mind-spoke my Companion she's going to get us all together. We can all run to warn the border."

"I won't risk the lives. This is dangerous."

"We're Heralds, or at least we will be, don't starting prattling about danger. We know full well what the job entails."

It only took a few minutes to gather everyone. Ten full Heralds and almost fifty trainees circled around the Companions paddock. Hoshi began to explain the vision and the Council's reluctance to do anything about it.

Janna took over the assignments. Trainees over the third year of training had special armor fitted for them,  to train with just in case they ever needed it as full Heralds. She let them go to get it on while the younger ones began to saddle the Companions. Suddenly people began pouring into the paddock. The entire Healing Collegium, trainee, teacher and resident walked over to Hoshi; led by Cedric.

"I got the message. You're going to need help"

"How many?"

"Almost forty, if you don't count the trainees"

"Janna, we've got forty more"

"Damn, even riding double we couldn't make it work"

            "What about them?" Hoshi pointed to the un-partnered Companions that were milling around the paddock.

"Would they take a rider?"

Janna paused for a minute, 'listening'  

"Yes, they'll take a rider"

It was pure chaos. Forty healers, ten full Heralds, nearly thirty trainee's and almost a hundred partnered and un-partnered Companions were milling about the paddock in disarray. It got together though. Within fifteen minutes the trainees had the war saddles on the Companions, packed with rations, and the other trainees and Heralds had the full armor and weapons ready. The Healers had their trauma kits, spare greens and the occasional chest or leg armor stuck around. Every Companion of age to bear a rider was recruited, even those of the trainees who would stay behind. The rest, pregnant or too young, waited to see their fellows off.

Janna mounted first, Hoshi followed, as did Suki who was going on this little trip as well. They wheeled and burst though the palace gates, to the surprise of the midwatch. The largest assembly of Companions and their Riders ever remembered began down the road at top speed. There wasn't much time; they had to get to the border to warn the guard