C H A P T E R - 6

The lights of Haven were all that told her that she was close to home.  She was tired to her core and ready to crawl into the first bed she found.  She had pushed hard to get back here before classes resumed and had barely made it, there were three candlemarks till dawn.  It would still take her over a candlemark to just get to the palace and then another to get Cryni bedded down.  She doubted she would get a chance to sleep more than a few minutes of sleep before the bell rang.

:If you sleep you won't wake up in time.:  Cryni reminded her. 

"Don't say that."  Tashti groaned.  "I am about to drop."

:So am I.  Have a bath before you go to class, you smell like you have been in the saddle for weeks.:

"I have been in the saddle for weeks."  Tashti pointed out.  "But you are right, I smell a bit ripe.  I'll have a bath and have a bit of a workout before breakfast.  That should wake me up some."

:You could go for a bit of a scramble and talk to Aeric before you go to class.  I know you still feel guilty for snapping at him.  He still has no idea why you took off suddenly.  That should wake you up better than working yourself to exhaustion.:

"I'll do that then, after the bath."  Tashti suppressed a smile.

:You can give him those odd little knives you bought for him.:

"They aren't odd, they are obsidian."  Tashti corrected.

:And sharper than razors, I know.  In essence they are chipped stone and very odd.:

Tashti didn't have the energy to argue with her.  The knives had been beautifully crafted and she knew they were worth the money and since Aeric relied more on knives than she did and she wanted him to have them.

She was still smiling when the guard stopped them.

"Running late aren't you?"  He asked.

"Or a bit early, it depends on how you look at it."  Tashti countered.  She answered the rest of his questions patiently before they were allowed to continue on.  It took her longer than normal to groom Cryni and take her bags up to her room.  She tucked away her leather bundle and took out the obsidian knives and left the bags in a corner to deal with later.

Grabbing a fresh towel and uniform she dragged herself to the bathing room.  She turned it on the cold water and stuck her head under the tap.  It was cold as a winter lake and her heart raced at the shock.  Satisfied she ran a tub of hot water and scrubbed herself quickly getting rid of the dirt of the road and got out to before she fell asleep.

Dressed and refreshed she returned to her room and picked up the knives.  She debated for a few moments whether she should walk down the hall or sneak in his window.  She decided to take the high road and slipped out her window barefoot.  It was still dark outside when she slipped in his window silently.

He was sprawled on his back with one arm resting above his head and a sheet rested low on his abdomen.  She grinned and admired his bare chest.  She shook his shoulder to wake him up.  He started to sit up when he saw her.

"You're back."  He said looking somewhat shocked.

"Of course, I am, I have classes."  Tashti said offended.

"I wasn't certain you would.  You looked upset when you left and no one knew where you went."

"I had some questions I needed answers for.  I made a trip to Kata'shin'a'in, saw a few friends and talked to my old teacher."

"When did you get in?"

"I just did.  I haven't had a chance to even catch some sleep yet.  I wanted to give you these."  Tashti dropped the bundle of knives on his lap and sat on the edge of the bed.

He unwrapped the bundle and picked up one of the knives and tested the edge.  It cut deep.

"Damn.  They are sharp."  He cursed and looked around for something to staunch the bleeding.

Tashti took his hand between her own and used her Healing gift to seal it.  "They are obsidian.  It is almost impossible to dull them."

"I have heard of them but I had no idea where to find them."

"The obsidian is found near dormant volcanoes and there are very few of them in the area."  Tashti released his hand.  "The people in the area these came from have hundreds of uses for it like mirrors, knives, and jewellery, they are incredible.  I bought an obsidian mirror for Lyra."

Aeric admired the knives in the weak light coming in the window.  "They are beautiful."

"I am glad you like them."  Tashti grinned

"You shouldn't have.  These must have been incredibly expensive."

"I wanted to.  I know you use knives and I thought you should have the best possible.  Even if these things chip they are incredibly sharp.  Some knife-healers prefer them since they are sharper than any knife."

Aeric put the knives on a bedside table.  "Did you find the answers you were looking for?"

Tashti nodded.  "Apparently he chose me because I climbed out a window when I was a toddler.  It was hard to face him but I feel much better now.  I was worth 4,000 gold to him."

"That is incredible."  Aeric was honestly shocked at the figure.

"He was rather shocked to discover that I hadn't become a seamstress or something else rather ordinary."

Aeric chuckled.

"He actually thought I was married.  I was staying with a Shin'a'in and he snuck into a tent intent on killing me.  He mistook An'desha for me and was about to act when I caught him.  We left him trussed up like a pig for the night."  Tashti grinned at the memory.  "After talking to him he decided I was more than he was willing to risk and cleared out of the city with his tail between his legs.  Since I let him go he knew I didn't consider him a threat."

"Is he a threat?"

"No.  He is mediocre at best and stiff with age.  Veren has promised to make certain he doesn't head to Valdemar."

"Who is Veren?"

"An old friend.  He looked out for me when I was younger.  I owe him a great deal.  He finished my sword training." 

"He must be good."

"Veren Taris is one of the best."

"That Veren?"  Aeric asked in disbelief.

"That Veren."

"I heard he was dead."

"No, he became a priest and dropped out of sight.  He is rather fanatic about his privacy so he rarely leaves his temple now.  Enough about my travels, what's happened while I was gone?"

"Not much really.  Lyra was rather upset that you left."

"I know it was rude."  Tashti stood up and started to pace.  "I spoke to Lady Hardren and I needed some answers.  I had to leave immediately if I wanted to get back before classes resumed."  Tashti clasped her hands in front of her and turned to face him.  She hated apologizing.  "I didn't mean to snap at you.  You were just worried for me and I ripped your head off.  I am sorry."

"I know, you wrote it in your note."

"All two lines of it."  Tashti grimaced.  "I didn't know what to say."

"You were right.  I was hovering.  You are more than capable of defending yourself."

The bell signalling it was time to get up rang. 

"Well, I better get ready for class." 

"Talk to you later."  Aeric said as she slipped out the door.

Tashti headed straight for the kitchen to discover what her chore schedule was.  She had mending just after lunch and kitchen the next day for dinner.

"I see you have returned."  Mero greeted her.  "Did you have a good vacation?"

"Yes, actually."  Tashti fixed herself a mug of gillyflower tea.  "I just got in."

"Where did you go?"  Mero offered her a small loaf of bread and some butter and honey.

"Kata'shin'a'in.  I met up with some old friends for a few days."

"A long ride for just a few days with friends.  You must have missed them."

"Good friends are worth the long ride."  Tashti ripped off a piece of the loaf and buttered it lavishly and drizzled honey over it.  "I have missed your cooking, Mero."

Mero smiled at her.  "I have missed your company and talents."

"I am scheduled in here tomorrow."  Tashti assured him.

"Have you already spoken to Aeric?"

"Yes.  Why?"

"He has been moping since you left."

"Moping?  That doesn't sound like him.  He was worried about something before I left.  I'll corner him again later and see if I can get him to talk."

"We thought perhaps it had something to do with you."

"We had a bit of a fight but I doubt it bothered him."  Tashti denied.

The first of the students came in yawning.  "Tashti, you're back."  He greeted her.

"I just got in."  Tashti stood up.  "I better get out of your way.  See you tomorrow Mero." 

That night she was already in bed when she remembered her plan to talk to Aeric.  She didn't bother with a robe as she padded through the dark halls to his room.  She knocked on the door hoping he was there.  She didn't want to have to wait.

"Come in."  He called.

Tashti opened the door.  "Hi."

"Is something wrong?"  Aeric looked up from his book with concern.

"Mero said you have been moping."  Tashti accused.

"Moping?"

"He hinted that several of the Heralds think I should talk to you."  Tashti closed the door behind her and sat down.

"Nothing's wrong."  Aeric denied.

"You are lying.  Or at least hiding something from me."  Tashti accused.  "You were bothered by something before I left.  Is it still bothering you?"

Hit.  She sensed his guilt at hiding something from her.

Tashti persisted.  "Does it have anything to do with why you were gone for those months?"

Hit.

"Did you have to kill someone?"  Tashti asked.  "You know I would understand.  And don't give me any bull about me only being in my first year."

"I would rather not discuss it."  Aeric stone walled her.

Tashti ground her teeth in frustration.  She was tempted to use her Empathy to get him to talk but that would be unethical.  "Very well."  She stood up.  "I'll see you later."

Tashti walked slowly back to her room.  What ever was bothering him had him tied up in knots.  There wasn't much she could do to help him if he kept stonewalling her.

Tashti suspected that he was still trying to protect her from the dark side of life.  He probably didn't realise just how much experience she had in her field.

Deciding sleep could wait a little long she hurried to her room.  She dug out a black bag she had hidden away and headed back to his room.  She knocked on his door but didn't wait for him to answer.  She found him still sitting in the same chair with his book on his lap.

"Did you forget something?"  He asked tiredly.

"No.  I just wanted to tell you something."  Tashti sat down.  "I haven't been completely honest with you.  I let you believe that I had only been trained as an assassin and that I had only a few jobs under my belt.  The truth is, I have been an assassin for over six years.  It was a conscious decision on my part and I wasn't forced into it."

"Why hadn't I heard of you before then?  I kept tabs on all active assassins in the countries surrounding Valdemar."

"I wasn't called Tashti.  Until I told you my name I had not been called that since I was twelve and I ran away from Tirune.  I didn't want him finding me so I changed my name to Silk."

Aeric stiffened.

"It sounded like a good name at the time."  Tashti sighed.  "I was thirteen or fourteen when I willingly became a killer.  It wasn't out of duty or greed or necessity.  It was simply that I knew I was good and I knew that if someone who was careful and valued human life took some of those jobs fewer people would be killed unnecessarily and fewer would die in agony.  I used poisons because they would just drift off to sleep and never wake up.  Sometimes I even convinced my employers that killing them was unnecessary and that a simple warning would do."

Aeric remained silent.  Tashti felt the silence between them pulse with tension.

"I can honestly say I have done my best to be certain that innocent people wouldn't get caught in my traps and turned down very well paying jobs and warned the target when I felt they were good people."  Tashti tried to assure him.  She opened the small black bag and shook out a pile of pebbles many with dots on them.  "There is one pebble for each job I took and one dot for each life."

There were over a hundred pebbles.

"I wanted to be able to look back and know how many lives I ended instead of just saying I couldn't remember.  Most may have been miserable human beings but they don't deserve to have their death's trivialized."  Tashti picked up one that had a distinct bluish tinge.  "This man was killing his wives for their fortunes with slow agonizing poisons that made them waste away and spend up to a year in mortal agony.  According to common knowledge he died of a heart attack.  His children don't know what he did and still have good memories of him."

She picked up another with two dots on it.  "This was a couple who tortured and killed their tenants for amusement.  As far as the rest of the world is concerned they died in a fire and went on to their just rewards.  They actually died in their sleep and after they were dead I set the fire and raised the alarm.  No one else was hurt."

Aeric reached over and took a handful of pebbles.  "You have been busy."

Tashti knew he was probably disgusted with her.  "Trust me, whatever you did can't be worse than what I have done."

Aeric returned the pebbles to her lap and she funnelled them into the bag.  "I didn't get there in time."

Tashti understood exactly what he meant.  "Who were they?"

"The Queen received a ransom demand for a caravan that was captured by bandits.  She complied but sent me to make certain this wouldn't happen again and to ensure the people of the caravan survived.  When I got there they were all dead.  Even the two children."

"Were they dead long?"

"They had been killed the day they were captured.  When I was finished I asked for some time to myself.  The queen granted it."

"How could you have saved them if they were dead before anyone knew they were captured?"  Tashti asked softly.  "I have faced the same thing.  The very people I was trying to save had been slaughtered."

Aeric had no answer.

Tashti set her stuff on the floor and knelt in front of him "There was nothing you could do but make certain that it wouldn't happen again.  Before I came to Haven I was approached by a young woman with a small bag of money.  She was a sex slave, she begged that I kill her master before he succeeded in killing one of the other slaves, a young girl of about fourteen.  I did.  The girl I was trying to save had been destroyed so thoroughly that when she died it was a mercy.  She never had a chance.  However he will never do that to another young girl."

Aeric met her gaze solemnly.  As she spoke she gently touched his mind with her Empathy.  She soothed the pain as gently as she could.  She hadn't had much training yet but her instinct told her what to do.

"Come on, you should get some rest."  Tashti urged him to his feet.

"Thank you."  He said with heartfelt gratitude.

Tashti got him into bed and returned to her room nearly stumbling from exhaustion.  Once there she collapsed on top of her blanket and promptly fell asleep.  The slave girl troubled her dreams again.  Her large eyes glazed with fear, her frame gaunt from refusing food, cringing whenever someone moved.

She was awakened just after dawn by a knock.  "Come in."  She called without moving, she was still exhausted.

The door opened but she didn't turn over to see who it was.  "I'll get up in a minute."

"I just wanted to say thank you."  Aeric said.

"You're very welcome.  I was glad I could help."  Tashti forced herself to sit up.  Her nightgown was rucked up around her thighs but she didn't bother to pull it down.  "Are you feeling better today?"

"Much.  Are you all right?  You look like hell."

"Gee, thanks."  Tashti said sarcastically.  "I am still a little tired."

Aeric still looked concerned and felt her forehead.  "You don't have a fever."

"I told you.  I am tired."  Tashti hauled herself to her feet.  "Is there something else you wanted to talk about?"  She got a uniform out of her wardrobe and laid it out on the bed.

"Have you told anyone else about your past?"

"Kero knows some of it but only you know I am Silk."  Tashti pulled her nightgown off and started changing oblivious to his presence.  "I would prefer you didn't share that.  Silk has retired."

"I am glad to hear that."  He sounded a little odd.

"Are you alright?"  Tashti turned to him with concern.

"I'm just fine."

Tashti recognized the hunger in his eyes.  "I have to get to class."

Aeric nodded and stepped out of her way.  "Thanks little sister."

Damn, Tashti thought, I finally get him interested and he goes brotherly.  Her day dragged by mostly because she was tired but partly because she was preoccupied by Aeric.  She had been attracted to men before but had usually never acted upon it.  Aeric was like a fire in her blood and she wanted him as a lover but every time she got close he turned brotherly.  Now when she had his attention she had to be somewhere else.  She was very tempted to knock him over his head and drag him off but good sense overruled that plan.  She had tried intimate dinners, flirting, everything short of crawling into his bed in the night.

"Is something wrong?"  Kero asked as she was leaving the salle.

"Nothing I can't handle.  I am just a bit tired."

Kero accepted the excuse and let her escape with out further questioning.  It was almost two months before she saw him again.  Her classes had changed and she lost all free time.  She had taken the first few candlemarks of another trainee's Foal watch so they could finish an assignment and was reading her text when he and Keara came in.

"Tashti, how have you been?"  He greeted her with a smile.

"Busy.  It seems there is always more I should know."

"How are your classes?"  He gathered Keara's brushes and started grooming her.

"Good.  They are challenging, which I like."

"I heard you had to give up helping with the Weapons class."

"I have plenty on my plate as it is.  I have my practice in the morning before breakfast and I spar with Kero in the afternoon so my training hasn't suffered much.  I want to finish as quickly as possible and get back to being useful."

"You are useful."  He protested.

"You know what I mean.  Useful for more than scaring the daylights out of Elspeth and warming benches.  I guess I am too used to action."

"I hear your family is begging for you to visit with them."

Tashti closed her book and grimaced.  "Gervain is still uncertain about me and my mother is driving me insane.  I have visited twice in the past few weeks and every time she holds my hands and pinches my cheek calling me her little girl.  I don't even remember her."

"Look at it from her point of view.  She has her long lost daughter back and instead of the cherubic little angel she remembers she has a full grown daughter who is very independent with a life of her own."  Aeric pointed out.  "She is probably trying to recapture some of what she lost."

"I have tried that.  I am starting to feel like a hunted deer."  Tashti complained.

"You all have to get accustomed to this situation.  Gervain has never had a sibling, your mother has never had a grown daughter, and you have never had a family.  What if you started meeting on neutral ground?  Then you might not feel so hunted."

"I think I will.  It can't be any worse."  Tashti considered it for a moment.  "I will recommend meeting at a tea house next time.  Enough about me, what have you been up to, are you feeling better?"

Aeric focused on grooming Keara.  "I'm fine."

Tashti didn't believe him.  "Aeric, you don't need to protect me.  Remember?"

"Hey Tash, thanks for covering for me."  A second year trainee burst in the door.

"It wasn't a problem."  Tashti assured him.  "It gave me a chance to study."

"I'll see you later.  Aeric."  She said as she walked out the door.

"Bye."  He called after her.

Tashti went in search of Cryni instead of going inside.  She found her grazing by the river.

:You look like you have a lot on your mind.:  Cryni greeted her.

"I do.  Aeric.  I know I should do something but I am not certain what."

:Knock him over the head and cart him off to bed.:  Cryni teased.

"You know what I mean.  He has been avoiding me and now he is back to 'I'm fine' when I ask how he is."

:It bothers you that he doesn't confide in you?:

"No.  It bothers me that he is holding all his pain inside.  I'd be happy if he spoke to Talia, but he needs to talk to someone."  Tashti sat in the grass.

:Is that all that bothers you?:

"No.  I also wish he would stop avoiding me.  He managed to avoid me for a month, not even meeting by accident.  If I didn't know better I would say he knows my schedule."

:And he called you 'little sister'.:  Cryni added knowingly.

"That too."

:Why not surprise him in his rooms.  You know he was attracted.:

Tashti rested her chin in her knees.  "He may be attracted but he doesn't want to be."

:Perhaps he thinks you wouldn't welcome his attentions.:  Cryni pointed out.

Tashti considered this in silence for a while.  "I guess there is no gain without risk."

Cryni gave her an encouraging nudge.  :He is returning to the Palace now.:

Tashti scratched Cryni's chin.  "I'll see you tomorrow." 

Cryni Sent her a rush of love and wandered off into the darkness.

Tashti ran back to the Collegium and changed into her black suit.  She brushed her hair until it gleamed and slipped out her window.  The quarter moon gave her enough light to see by and she made it to his window easily.  She heard him moving about preparing for bed.  She waited until the lantern was snuffed out before she slipped in the window.  He spun about when he heard her land.  He wore an old shirt and trews.  Tashti thought he looked deliciously rumpled.

"Are you going out roof walking?"  He asked confused.

"No."

"You are going to pester someone then."  Referring to her let tests on Kerowyn's behalf.

"No.  I don't have time for them very often so Kero has given me some time off."  Tashti leaned against the windowsill so she was silhouetted against the night sky.  "Actually, I have decided I am tired of you treating me like a little sister but I am not certain how to proceed from here."

Aeric was stunned.

"Cryni thinks I should knock you over your head and drag you off to bed."  Tashti confessed.

Aeric found himself laughing.

Tashti scowled and pushed away from the window.  "I am glad I am amusing you."  She mock growled.

"You are delightful."  Aeric strode across the room and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her tight against his body.

Tashti wrapped her arms around his neck.  "You really think so?  Damn, that sounded pathetic."  She muttered the last to herself.

He ran his hands over the smooth silk she wore, enjoying the tactile sensation.  "I thought you only wanted friendship."

Tashti could feel his desire mingling with her own.  She knew when his eyes widened that he felt the same thing.

"I want more than friendship."  She assured him

~~~

Tashti woke to the sound of the bell.  Aeric had an arm around her waist, holding her close to him.

"Are you awake?"  She asked running her hand down his well-muscled chest.  She had no desire to move.

His arm tightened.  "I have been for a while."

Tashti glanced up at him.  She could sense he was as content and as blissful as she was.  "I better get going.  I have kitchen duty right off."  She sat up reluctantly.

Aeric trailed a finger down her cheek and stared at her intently.

"Is something wrong?"  She asked.

"No.  I was thinking that it was just a bit less than a year ago that you were lying in a bed and no one believed you would live."

"I remember.  You were looking like death warmed over and hadn't left my side.  You said I was worth the trouble."

"You are.  I still have nightmares of watching you fall to the ground.  I can still see the way your eyes were glazed over and hear you say you trust me.  I wish I had convinced you not to take the poison." 

"I hope you didn't have a hare brained plan to rescue me."

"Keara recommended it.  We were going to ride in and pull you off the platform then ride off into the sunset and who knew what else."  Aeric admitted.  "We didn't have much time to plan."

Tashti found herself grinning.  "Simple often works better.  Cryni says she waited to Choose me because she knew you were going to ride to my rescue and she felt it would be best for me to be pardoned before I became a Herald.  She also says to tell you that it was about time I caught you."

Tashti climbed out of the bed and gathered up her clothes.  She considered how she could return to her room unseen but it was too light for her to scamper across the face of the palace.  She also didn't want to return to her room wearing her black outfit.

"I can lend you some clothes."  Aeric got out of bed and fetched a pair of his pants and a shirt.

They were much too large and made her look small and vulnerable.  No matter how tight she tied the collar it still slipped down to reveal one shoulder.  Her hair was tousled about her shoulders.

There would be no doubt in anyone's mind that she had spent the night with him.

After a warm, tender farewell she returned to her room.  She dressed quickly and ran to the kitchen.  She wasn't the first to arrive and set immediately to work.  A blissful smile was plastered on her face and she found herself singing quietly as she worked.

The other trainees glanced at her when she sang too loudly.

"He must be good to put that silly smile on your face."  Sera, a Trainee in her last year teased.

Tashti only laughed.

That afternoon after classes Tashti was cornered in the bathing room by many of her friends.  Tashti was up to her neck in water as hot as she could stand and had just finished rinsing her hair when they decided it was time for some fun.

"So, why do you look like you can float on air?"  Fio asked nonchalantly.

"Would it have anything to do with you leaving Herald Aeric's room this morning wearing his clothes?"  Sera asked.

"Herald Aeric?"  Tina cocked an eyebrow.  "I am surprised we don't have to pull her off the ceiling.  She has been after him for almost a year now."

"I am curious as to why she needed his clothes."  Sera said in a stage whisper to the girl in the next tub.

Tashti should have known they wouldn't let her be.  "And when was the last time you were seen creeping out of the boys side Sera."

"Me?  Never."

"Yesterday just before the bell rang."  Fio pointed out.  "I believe you were visiting with Kirth."

Sera blushed.

"And you could only have seen me if you were in the Herald's wing."  Tashti pointed out.

Sera sent a splash of water at Tashti.  Tashti retaliated swiftly by dunking Sera under the water.  From there it became a water fight that was only stopped when Herald Talia stopped to investigate the fuss.

"You better clean this before Gaytha discovers it."  She warned the blushing group of trainees.

"We will."  Tashti assured her. 

"I assume there is a good reason you have reduced this place to a marsh."  Talia tried to hide a smile.

"Tashti was seen in the-" Sera started to speak when Tashti plunged her back under the water.  Sera came back up sputtering, grabbed a wet towel and hurled it at Tashti.  She dodged it easily but Talia had no such luck.  It hit her with a wet splat in the middle of her chest.

Tashti covered her mouth and tried to suppress a laugh and failed dismally.  Tears were pouring down her face and she couldn't catch her breath.

Talia peeled the towel off her chest. 

"We were just teasing Tashti about finally catching Aeric."  Sera explained horrified.

Fio sank down in the tub till she was barely visible but she could still be heard laughing.

Tina had her face buried in a towel but her shaking shoulders revealed she was still laughing.

"What's going on?"  Gaytha appeared behind Talia.

"I am very sorry."  Sera apologized.  She turned to Tashti and glared.  "Oh shut up Tash." 

Tashti managed to regain control of her laughter.  "We got a bit out of hand.  We'll clean it up immediately."  She promised and located a dry towel for Talia.

Talia was smiling so Tashti wasn't too worried.

"Consider it revenge for laughing when I thought I was losing my wits when Cryni Chose me."  Tashti grinned.

"I had hoped you had forgotten that."  Talia accepted the dry towel.  "Very well, we are even."

Tashti started gathering the wet towels and together, she and the other bathers, mopped up the water and sent the towels down the chute.

"Is this little affair with Aeric going to last long?"  Sera asked Tashti quietly.

"I hope so.  It took me a year to catch him."  Tashti pulled on her wet robe.  "We'll just have to wait and see."

"Well, tell me when you move on, he must be talented to have put such a smile on your face."  Sera winked.

Tashti laughed.  Sera had been incorrigible, pursuing every unattached male in Greys and Whites.  The vivacious young woman wanted to live life to the fullest and have no regrets when she sought the Havens.

Tashti and Sera ran into Aeric who was returning her silk shirt that she had forgotten that morning.

"You look like you got caught in a rainstorm."  He commented when he saw her dripping wet.

"More like we created one."  Sera smiled and winked at him.  "Take good care of our Tash or we will dunk you in the river, understand."  She mock threatened and bounced off.

"Is she normally like that?"  Aeric asked confused.

"Yes."  Tashti accepted the shirt.  "Don't worry, she can be serious."

He pulled her close ignoring her wet robe.  "I can't get you out of my mind."

Tashti leaned against him and wound her fingers in his hair.  "They have been teasing me all day about being unable to stop smiling.  That is what started the rainstorm.  Poor Talia caught the worst of it by walking in on us."

"I better get going.  You have to dry off, and get to supper."  Aeric released her reluctantly.

"So do you."  Tashti pointed out as she entered her room.  "Shall I see you a dinner?"

"I can't, I'll see you later."  He kissed her and left.

Tashti was grinning like an idiot again.  She changed into a uniform and grabbed a History text and ran off to the Common room.  She ate and studied away from most of the others.  Her friends understood why she wanted her space to pursue her goal to make it through her training as quickly as possible. 

She was one of the last who left after supper when it hit her.  Generally her Foresight was only enough to give her a good hunch that was normally accurate.  This was the first time she had ever been hit with a Foresight vision.

Selenay was standing on a parapet staring off into space.  She was alone.  Tashti could see the Companion's field beyond Selenay and the angle of the sun told her this was not far in the future.  The trapdoor leading to the parapet opened and a shadowy figure emerged, Tashti saw a knife in his hand. 

The Queen didn't hear him.