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I don't own it.  I make no profit off of it. I mean to offend no one's        sensibilities.  Please God don't sue.

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Suki

She was unhappy. Her lady was unhappy so therefore she was unhappy. There was something wrong with Hoshi. Hoshi wouldn't tell her, but it seemed as if something was on her mind and she was troubled about it. Suki hadn't lived with her lady for all twenty-four years of her life without knowing when something was bothering her.

It was odd, it looked as though there was a problem, but she wasn't talking about it. Odd, and troubling too. She had now nowhere to go but the last resort. Cedric.

"Heyla Suki, what can I do for you?"

"You know what wrong with Hoshi?"

"No.  You noticed it too?  I knew I wasn't imagining things, she is acting kinda weird isn't she?"

"Yes, very odd. It worry me. She acting like she saw something in the future, but is not talking about it to me"

" Yeah, I know what you mean. She came in here for me to patch up her knuckles.  Seems as if she was working out on a tree somewhere and dislocated her fingers."

"Ouch" Suki grimaced, having done the same to herself before.

"She wouldn't let me heal it up, she said that she just needed some bandage to relocate the knuckle and put it back in place.  Said it would be better that way."

"It is, build up the protection on knuckle.  She no do that for many moons though. Very painful. Leaves blue and green mark all over hands or days after.  She must really be thinking."

"Pain helps her think?"

"It centers the thoughts, yes."

"Incredible. Heralds are so strange. If they're not out there killing themselves over something they're asking us to speed heal them shut or just walking about ignoring bones poking out of the skin altogether. It's insane. You know Sophia warned me about this."

"What?"

"She said that a relationship with a Herald was next to impossible if you hadn't lifebonded.  That there was just too much stuff in the way. The job, the Companions, the bones poking out of the skin, the complete lack of common sense… "

"I know about it. Same for Samurai in Nagano.  They marry, sure, but no home for long.  Day here, day there, never stay long. Always die young.  Very hard loving one. I know.  I stay with Hoshi all her life. If the Gift not come she would have died long time ago. She was the best and the best always go first. Now she a Herald and in the same boat. She is happy fighting here though, good battle for good masters.  Not like Nagano.  No honor left in Nagano." Suki sighed, troubled, and Cedric put a friendly arm around her shoulders.  "I worry about her, Cedric. She run about all day with strange people. Going to get herself killed. She good, but no one is that good. Then where will I be?" 

"You'll take care of everyone else just like you always do. Well here's to Heralds and the poor souls that love them.  C'mon, I'll buy you a drink.  We ought to celebrate."

"Celebrate what?"

"Anything you want to celebrate."

"Life," she said thoughtfully, "Let us celebrate life"

"To life then" The friendly arm, turned into a friendly hand, held hers all the way to the canteen.

Hardin

Hardin's job involved a lot of hand shaking and baby kissing.  That's just the way it went.  Everyone seemed to think that the office of king automatically instilled some kind of supernatural importance, and of course, they wanted a chunk of it for themselves.

On the way to Garthsholding, in what was formerly Karse, he anticipated if not throngs of people, at least a few who'd want to shake his hand or touch his cloak or something.

What he didn't anticipate was the almost callous coldness of the occupants and there apparent ignorance of his presence.  If nothing else he and his entourage of Hoshi, the Elder councilors, Sophia and Colonel Brandon startled farmers as they were picking up the pieces after the Karsites.

"It would seem, my lord king, that we are not anticipated." 

"It would seem, my lord, that the people have better things to do than line the streets and wave.  Maybe they too have taken damage from the invasion, had that occurred to you?"

"Yes, you majesty, it would just seem as if…"

"Seems mean nothing, m'lord.  Kindly think on what we have to do, not the distraction of a few farmers."

"Yes, majesty"

Lord Almery was a conniving, deceitful, rat of a man he deserved any and trouble his constituents gave him. Considering that these Holderkin would soon be under his jurisdiction, at least temporarily, Hardin was forced to take him along for the ride.  This left a bad taste in his mouth.  Hardin didn't like deceitful rats.    

They arrived at the main Hold in good time, even if they weren't all riding Companions.  Of all the people he brought with him, Hoshi and Sophia were the most looked at and commented upon in the whole train.  He guessed they'd never seen Heraldic whites before.

"Greetings, headman.  I trust I find you well?"

"Greetings, King Hardin.  You find us as we are, no more and no less."

"These are a few of my governors who are concerned about admitting you into the Kingdom of Valdemar.  I hope, headman, that you can put this apprehension to rest.  The council has already given its permission, we are simply awaiting the two thirds consent of the states."

"I understand"

"These individuals here are the Governors of the province you will be petitioning into, Lord Almery, Lady Bettie, Lord Gainsfield, and Lord Fullerton.  This is Herald Hoshi, my Lord Marshal's Herald, and this is my sister Herald-Princess Sophia Damodred who is also Kings Own.  This is Colonel Brandon; he's the man you're going to be coordinating with for the Border Patrol.  Any questions?"

 "You allow women to work among you?"

Garth clearly found this hard to believe. Hardin raised his eyebrows, so that's the way it was going to be. He let his face and tone harden.

"Yes, Headman, we not only allow, but we encourage women to participate in anything they consider fit."

"Women are not able to do such things, my lord King.  Perhaps it would be better if we conducted this inquiry at a later time when the---ladies---have something better to occupy their time."

"These 'ladies' are members of my governors and council.  We will not proceed without them.  There is no one true way in Valdemar, Headman, perhaps we will conduct these inquiries at a time when such a trivial concern is not as important to you."

Red began to rise under the collar of the Headman.  His face turned a charming shade of purple, then puce. He glared suspiciously at the women that made up the entourage. The other officials, all men, seemed distrustful as well. There were no women present. Hardin began to seriously doubt that those Holderkin women were allowed much of anything for themselves, let alone represent themselves. 

"They will be of no concern, your Majesty.  Let us continue the negotiations."

"Now wait just one hot little second here."

Oh no, not Lady Bettie.  She was old enough to be Hardin's grandma and was still clever enough to run circles around men half her age.  She had a temper like spring storm and held grudges for lifetimes.

"I am Lady Carolyn Elizabeth Braddock de Howard and as a governor, moreover as the chairperson of the congress of governors, I hold say over whether this turd gets admittance into MY province.  I say nay at this moment and for as long as I hold my seat in the congress of governors the answer will always be nay.  Insolent brat.  Didn't your mother ever teach you the proper way to treat a lady? That'll show you for being a hidebound prejudiced fool in this day and age."

She turned her pert little pony right back around and began trotting down the road in the direction they'd come.

"Damn it.  Hoshi, follow her and make sure she doesn't get into any trouble. You and I, Headman, have some serious talking to do." He dismounted, and came face to face with the Holderkin Elder. "In Valdemar, all citizens, including women, are considered equal and have equal rights to everything.  Perhaps we should talk on making this a priority."