Things to know before reading:
--Things happen pretty quickly in this chapter. That's because I wanted to hurry up and get to the point, the main plot, and I'm sure you want to as well. ^-^;;
Kismet of a Changechild
Chapter IIXV (-is that right?)
By Aura Kage
[predawn…]
Herald Syrkaderik woke with a start, breathing hard, sweat beading on his forehead. He stared at the wall in front of him for a moment, absolutely afraid. After a moment, when he had gained control of himself and realized what had happened, he lied back on his pillow with an exasperated sigh.
Of course…his ForeSight explained itself in his dreams and sometimes in his weakest gift, the Bardic. At least, though, he remembered his dreams with unnatural clarity…the only problem was, his dreams didn't really make much sense until the foretold event had already happened or was in progress, and his dreams consisted of blurry colors.
He took out his book and writing utensil, and began to write down all that he remembered in his own erratic way of taking notes:
Black: moving slow, subtle, graceful, magic, flight. No fixed form. Feathers?
Gray: subtle, green & gold, shifting forms, big and small. Definitely Dawnshadow..
Red: slow water and swiftly moving. Blood could be the first, unknown second.
Blue: swiftly moving, halfway graceful, mingled with black. Possibly Unaffiliated.
White: fast, flashing…unknown.
Gold: very, very thin and did not move at all. Hint at deceit, treachery, and a white lie.
Try as he might, Derik couldn't think of anymore elements to his dream, and gave his tired mind a rest. He made a mental note to check on Dawnshadow later just in case, but he forgot all about it as soon as he fell back asleep, this time un-meddled with his Gift.
~
"Good morning, Zohariel," Wyll said poisonously as the Unaffiliated stumbled out of his room, fully garbed in his Blues though his dark brown hair was unkempt. He rubbed his eye quickly and straightened his back as he faced his teacher, eyes drooping and forcing back a yawn. The teacher smiled.
"This is your last day of punishment, my little friend…I trust you won't wander off the grounds again?" Wyll asked offhandedly, his tone of voice expecting an answer. Zohariel nodded sleepily and leaned against the doorframe, trembling as the cold hall penetrated through the Blues.
"Yeah…I mean, yes. Yes, sir," he replied drowsily. "Not…(*yawn*)…not ever again."
"Well, good," Wyll said gruffly, shoving a stack of papers into the student's hands. Zoh fumbled with the papers clumsily, and managed to keep them in place as Wyll gave him the final instructions. "Take these to the head of the kitchens. He is to give you everything on this list, and you are to bring it to the Miss Lebetter, who requested them. Then you are finished. Much to my disappointment," Wyll added under his breath as the Blue departed, this time having the good sense to bring a lantern with him.
He was into the Heralds' Collegium and halfway up the second staircase when he finally realized just who had requested the items on the list.
"Le – Lebetter?!" he hissed into the empty hallways, his voice dryly resonating back to him, amplified and fading in the emptiness of the halls. "Havlah Lebetter?"
Zohariel dropped to one knee and placed the papers on the floor with a rasp sound like leaves in the wind, the lantern expelling rather deadly fumes as it burned the fish oil and radiated gold-yellow light onto the pale, fancy-font parchment. Zohariel's eyes darted over the words as the lantern sputtered, the oil moving over to one side and depleting fuel from the other.
The paper seemed to be a list of groceries…it included quail eggs and chicken feathers (why in the world would a kitchen have chicken feathers? Unless it killed its own poultry…), as well as several other food items which Zohariel either didn't recognize or couldn't read.
That Havlah needs to improve her handwriting…
Biting his lip suspiciously, Zohariel flipped the papers over and saw only more smudged papers, which weren't about food or any other thing that the Blue recognized. Sighing and nearly putting out his lantern in the process, he gathered the papers and stood up, carefully transporting them to one hand while bending over to pick up the lantern again.
Something tells me I shouldn't do this…but something else is telling me I have no other choice. And that last something is right.
~
Snowsong and Dawnshadow panted up the stairs once more, though this time the ex-scout was at least managed to stay on his two legs, however bent forward he was. Dawnshadow was crawling forward on all fours, greatly tempted to stop in the middle of the stairs and fall asleep in whatever position she happened to be in.
Who knew Firestarting could be so exhausting…
She paused to gain her breath, and Snowsong continued, oblivious to the absence of the Changechild as he trod forward, depleted of energy. Kestri burbled softly from nest of hair, and Snowsong stopped and turned.
"What…what's…" he began, trying to continue but failing to do so. For some reason, 'being a great Herald' was no longer as great as it seemed from his old no-magic point of view.
"Nothing…" Dawnshadow groaned, leaning against the wall and pausing for breath. As if it wasn't enough her lessons with Griff had begun to advance ferociously in the past week, she was two staircases up from the ground. "Just…go on."
:Dearest,: Kyrrith chimed in the back of her mind. :Are you stopping to rest, or did you remember?:
:Remember…remember what?: Dawnshadow asked tiredly. In the Companion's Field, Kyrrith shook his head sadly and pawed at the ground.
:Animal Mindspeaking with Herald Opal,: Kyrrith reminded. Dawnshadow groaned aloud and sunk down so that she sat on a step, Gray-garbed legs splayed over two more.
:That's right, Chosen,: Kyrrith said sweetly. :Don't you remember? Griff told you – since you end Firestarting in early afternoon, you get to take Animal Mindspeaking for a candlemark or two. Oh, don't worry…it can't be that hard to practice how to mindspeak, can it?:
:Oh…Kyrrith…can't you-?:
:No. The sooner you learn how to use your Gifts, the better,: Kyrrith said curtly. :Besides – you think you're tired now? You haven't even taken classes with Herald Kerowynn or Alberich yet!:
"What…wrong?" Snowsong asked from the top of the staircase.
:What?: Kestri agreed, lopsided on her perch.
"I…forgot something," Dawnshadow said, regaining some of her strength and standing to head back down the stairs. "Sorry, Snowsong…"
"That's…alright. Bye."
"Bye…"
Dawnshadow moaned as she trod down the stairs, Kyrrith directing her to the place where Herald Opal was readying herself to teach her new pupil.
~
Zohariel was walking back to the Collegium, toting two bags filled with the errands he had to run. One bag held what 'Miss Lebetter' had requested; the other was…whatever else had been on the papers that he had had to deliver. Most of it were food items that had needed to be prepared; that was why he was back this late afternoon, taking the finished objects back to the Unaffiliated-Collegium. But the work wasn't hated; Zoh was at least glad to miss his arithmetic lessons, which were at the end of the day. Taxes always managed to get him confused.
He stopped to rest at the corner of the Collegium, looking over to the Companion's Field, unaware that this was the exact spot Havlah had been the day before, spying on Dawnshadow. He wiped his forehead free of perspiration and tried to ignore the seductive fragrance of some sort of baked fruit dessert – pie, maybe?
Well, mostly likely he'd have it for dinner. He had heard a rumor from Tayirr that the Unaffiliated's head of kitchen had quit because he wasn't being paid enough…
He leaned against the smooth walls of the Herald's Collegium, breathing shallowly and enjoying what could be his last few moments of freedom. What was wrong with his parents, anyway? They said he had allergies; allergies for everything from animals to plants to the sun itself, and they wanted to keep him safe. What did they care for his well being? So long as he grew up and became some sort of wealthy merchant that dealt with jewelry, they didn't care a wit for anything that happened to him. Zoh could get both arms and a leg cut off before they would notice something had happened to him.
With a heavy sigh, he stooped and picked up the bags, glad that at least the afternoon was cool. He hated overly sunny days. He stepped forward, eyes trained on the bleached forms basking in the orangey sunlight-
And tripped over something on the ground. Instinct at least made him keep the bags away from him, so they wouldn't be squashed…though some of the items fell from Havlah's bag and rolled into the grass before coming to a halt. Zohariel stood up and gathered them up quickly, making sure that the stuff that had fallen out were at least unharmed; just the quail eggs, which were all but one unflawed, and a packet of some sort of green-colored tea. The open yolk and whites of the egg oozed over the grass, the speckled brown shell cracked into three sections.
Zohariel erected the bags, making sure their contents were safe, and looked down at whatever had tripped him. He saw something Gray splayed over the tallish grass, as well as a splatter of black, underneath which lay a sleeping form colored lightly with ashen hues that matched her clothing – the Changechild! She hadn't stirred at all, and had evidently decided to take a nap outside. Or…
"He – hello?" Zohariel cautioned, gently kicking her leg. "Are you alright?"
"Mmmm? What…" Dawnshadow stirred, her hands (which had been just beside her neck) tightening into fists and spine straightening as she stretched. She pulled into an upright position, knees angled with the bottom half of her legs behind her. She scratched her eyes and peered up at Zohariel sleepily.
"Sorry," the Blue said, chagrined, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't know if you were sleeping…or something else…"
"Where'm I?" the Changechild asked, squinting at Zohariel as if she couldn't see very well. "Who're…who're you? What…happened?"
"I'm Zohariel," the Blue said, glad to finally be able to introduce himself. He extended a hand, which Dawnshadow stared at suspiciously for a few heartbeats before she took it and used it to get up. "I don't know what happened, but I'm guessing you got really tired and never made it to bed, or something…"
"I…yes, I was very tired," Dawnshadow agreed, wavering slightly before putting a hand on the wall to steady herself. Her pupils contracted and dilated, trying to adjust to the light. "I think…I went to Herald Opal, and she…and I was talking to…his name was Silver…but then…"
She seemed very dizzy; Zohariel held out a hand to help her, but she ignored it, her face twisted as he tried to remember.
"I…I'm sorry," Dawnshadow apologized. "If I…I think I tripped you, is that right? I'm sorry…"
"It's alright," Zohariel told her, helping her straighten herself. Dawnshadow looked at him gratefully, and he looked back into those strange eyes; they seemed to stare for an eternity, and then she pulled away, suddenly very frightened.
"Oh, no – Snowsong, he's going to wonder where I am!" she exclaimed, turning and running. "Sorry – I've got to go!"
"But – wait!" he called out, and to his utmost surprise she stopped in mid-step and turned her head to look at him.
"No, please, really – I have to go now," she was telling him, and it seemed as if she was pleading with him to let her go away, and with a blank look Zohariel nodded and she dashed off.
Well…that was a little odd…
~
Dawnshadow reflected on her last memories, trying to figure out what had happened. She certainly knew that the last place she had been wasn't outside, by the Collegium…she had been talking to Silver, Herald Opal's cat whose lustrous fur was his namesake, and then she had departed after a few candlemarks to go back to her room. She jogged into the Collegium via the front door after passing through the Companion's Field, and absentmindedly noted the position of the sun and the colors of the sky – Snowsong would be eating supper, maybe, with everyone else, and they would be wondering where she was-
And still, she wondered…what had happened? And why had she stopped when that Blue – Zohariel, was it? – told her to? Certainly it wasn't because she had wanted to…what she had wanted more than anything else at that moment was to leave, because for some reason that 'feline' part of her was screaming to get away, get away, get away…
And she felt so sore. Not like the odd, mental-physical exhaustion…this was truly physical, as if she had been battered and bruised and thrown about. But she couldn't remember…she had hit her head, or something…
Almost as if someone had turned on a light and everything in a dark room was revealed, so she suddenly remembered everything that had happened. She had left Herald Opal's chambers, of course, and then she had been heading up to her room…
…and then someone had assaulted her…
She had a memory of something blue, and giggling, and in her mind she saw four – or was it five? – people, laughing at her as they tossed her around. Questions…they were asking her why she didn't defend herself, why they weren't burned down already, and she was so bewildered and angry at this that she tried to hurt them, but it didn't work…
They had laughed some more, and then everything after that went into darkness, tucked away in her mind.
Dawnshadow paused at the foot of the stairs, contemplating. Blues had attacked…why? For no specific reason, it seemed, unless she had somehow offended them…
This is so confusing…
With a heavy sigh, she ran up the stairs, skipping every other one for no reason, except maybe to get to her room faster. Snowsong was absent, probably downstairs, eating dinner with Kestri. If not with his kestrel, then maybe she was out hunting.
Dawnshadow sighed and crawled under the bed, staring at the wall. She felt very tired…and somehow, very…
Blinking suddenly, acknowledging some information that crept subtly into her mind, Dawnshadow crawled out from under the bed and pulled back her long sleeves. Her arm was spotted blue-purply, the exact color half her face had been before it had started fading back into 'normal' color not so long ago. Bruised…but how?
And then another light being turned on in her mind; those girls. The Blue, the Unaffiliated…they did this. As soon as Dawnshadow realized those bruises on her arm, they began to throb painfully, and she winced and pulled her sleeve back. She checked her other arm; just as bad, if not worse.
Now her whole body ached, and she knew somehow that she was bruised everywhere as well, and that the Blues had did it. The Changechild was going to tell Derik – he would do something about this, and now the cat was bristling and hissing inside her like an enraged fire suppressed when it wanted so much to escape…
Dawnshadow put her hand on the doorknob, but just as she did Snowsong opened the door, pulling it back and looking surprised as he saw Dawnshadow just in front of him.
"Where were you?" he asked immediately, lifting an eyebrow. "Everyone – well, Derik and Kuri, anyway – were wondering where you went. Herald Opal said you left candlemarks ago, but no one had seen you at all…"
"Snowsong, I'm sorry – something happened, see, loo-"
Dawnshadow stopped in mid-sentenced, suddenly compelled not to tell Snowsong at all about this. Snowsong didn't really need to know – he couldn't do anything about it anyway, and most likely those Blues would stop. This was probably just some jealousy phase that they were going through – besides, if she just ignored them, then they'd get bored with her and stop. Yes…
"Nevermind," Dawnshadow said hastily, just as Snowsong opened his mouth to inquire on what Dawnshadow was talking about. "Nevermind, I just…I was wandering around outside, getting some fresh air."
"For the whole afternoon?" Snowsong said, skeptical. "You can't have just walked around outside for the whole afternoon, could you?"
"No…I mean, yes…I mean, I was walking outside, practicing Animal Mindspeaking," Dawnshadow made up, backing away from the doorframe so that Snowsong could enter the room. "With the birds…and the rest of them. I got so excited after I was able to talk with Silver – that's Herald Opal's cat – that I wanted to try it out on the wildlife, and I…lost track of time…"
"Oh…" Snowsong said, sounding as if he didn't really believe her but not willing to pursue the matter. He shrugged. "Well, next time tell the Heralds…they were going mad wondering what happened to you, whether you were being harassed by Blues or something. Queen's Own Talia said that when she was a Herald-Trainee, the Unaffiliated really went overboard…"
"Yes, but Herald Talia wasn't a Firestarter," Dawnshadow argued softly, crawling back under the bed. "If anyone tried to hurt me…"
"Yeah, guess you're right," Snowsong agreed, climbing up to the topmost bed to bedeck himself in sleeping clothes. "I'm going to get to bed now – Darkwind said he's going to start waking me up as early as you now."
"Good night, then, Snowsong."
"G'night, Dawnshadow…"
:Night,: Kestri quirked at the back of both of their minds with a kind of agitated tone, as if she was scolding them for forgetting about her. Snowsong laughed.
"Good night, Kestri," the two said in unison.
~
Kestri was the one to notice, oddly enough. Or maybe it wasn't really so odd, since her day's agenda consisted of helping Snowsong with his Mage Gift and hunting and looking really towards her own survival.
A week had passed since Dawnshadow had 'gone missing', and now it seemed that she was 'going missing' far more frequently than ever. Kestri wasn't interested in the human-food that adorned the dinner tables for midday-eats and night-food, so she spent those times hunting. It didn't take much to fill her diminutive stomach, either – a snake or a mouse or two, and she was sated and happy.
Not so with Dawnshadow. Kestri had noticed over the past seven nights (though it took her a while to actually pay attention to the difference, it was at least faster than the pace that Snowsong and Derik were noticing at) that the cat-girl had been gradually eating smaller and smaller portions of her midday-meal and avoiding night-eats all together. Breakfast at the Collegium was ignored because she got up so early, and the cat-girl didn't once take a snack or two, like those dry tasteless crackers.
It was beyond Kestri's understanding why someone would not eat, let alone why they would not want to eat, so she…'investigated' further.
Snowsong and she had finished the training with Darkwind. It was time for him to take a nap, or go to eat midday-food. He was going to take a nap, and offered that Kestri take a nap as well, but she refused and told him she was going to go hunting, in her own simplistic way of putting those words together. Suspecting nothing, of course, Snowsong opened the window for her so she wouldn't have to make her way through the myriad of halls in the Collegium and reminded the bird not to get into any trouble before drifting into easy, exhausted sleep.
Kestri flapped up to the cracked window and stuck her head out, looking this was and that, testing the wind before sliding out and hopping onto the gutter. She opened her wings, and the adjustments to her feathers came automatically, second nature to her. In moments she was in the sky, spiraling into the endless blue that reminded her of smart-horse eyes and dove back down again, looking for the cat-girl and possible something to devour to fill her stomach.
She had caught two baby snakes and some type of gold-white mouse when she realized that she was veering off her goal and with a startled chirrup hopped into the skies to go look for her quarry.
She didn't have long to look; in fact, she didn't really have to look at all. Just before she had thrown herself into the sky, a hard slate-gray thing came hurtling her way, half the size of her body. It struck her wing and Kestri cried out in pain before collapsing to the ground, pain lancing through her appendage and sending panic-spurts into her mind.
Dawnshadow came immediately after that, called by the kestrel's cry.
"Kestri! What're you doing here?" Dawnshadow inquired hastily, her breath raspy as she fought for her own breath.
:FEARPANIC!: Kestri emitted instead, trying in vain to move around with her wing fully extended and unable to close. :PAINPAINPAIN!:
"Where is she? Do you see her?"
"Over there!"
"Where?"
"There, stupid!"
"Don't call me stupid!"
"Stop arguing already, Lana, and go get some more rocks! We've almost got her!"
Dawnshadow's pupils widened as she heard the shouted command so ill-concealed, and she scooped up the bird as gently as she could, though Kestri still cried in anguish as her wing crumpled against Dawnshadow's body.
:Sorry, sorry! We have to get away, or else they'll get you too, Kestri!: Dawnshadow said, panicked and failing to console the kestrel.
:Help, pain!: Kestri called. :Help! Horse! HORSE!:
Her Mindspeaking was too quiet, the distance too great. Dawnshadow had tried five days ago the second time this happened to call for Kyrrith, but kept getting distracted by something and forgetting all about doing so at all. It was rather strange, really – but there were more pressing priorities at hand presently.
Like not getting stoned to death.
:Horse!: Kestri called again, sounding desperate, adrenaline coursing through both their veins. :HORSE!:
:He can't hear!: Dawnshadow said, wincing as a stone hit her leg. A chorus of cheers came up from behind, as well as a: "Good hit, Vyra! Get a bigger on next time, though…"
:Snowsong!: Kestri cried, changing her plea. :SNOWSONG! SNOWSONG!:
:He can't hear you either!: Dawnshadow said, hopping left to dodge a rock and succeeding. :He's too far!:
:Wrong!: Kestri reprimanded fiercely. :Snowsong always hear! Snowsong! Help!:
Just then Dawnshadow tripped over something on the ground; she hugged Kestri close as she skidded on the dirt, glad that it wasn't the cobblestone though it hurt all the same. Kestri struggled and cried in agony; her warm sanguine blood spilled over Dawnshadow's arms as the snapped bone in her wing tore her flesh and feathers.
:Kestri!: Dawnshadow cried, scrambling for her feet though not able to let go of the bird who was now clawing viciously at her arms, totally lost in her own pain and derangement. :Help!:
It was the first time ever Dawnshadow had been able to call for help. It was because she wasn't calling for help for herself (which was forbidden by the coercion spell) but was calling for help for Kestri, an entirely different matter that wasn't covered by the mage's spell.
In the nearby trees, a hundred heads lifted, shining beaks turning to point at the exact area Dawnshadow had fallen with the bleeding Kestri in her arms, and the rapidly approaching group of female Blues, who were crying out in triumph as they landed more stones that Dawnshadow was unable to avoid.
The diversified flock of birds rose as one, a fluttering shadow arising from the canopies. It was a sight that made the Blues and Dawnshadow stop, but Kestri was still crying if not emitting her emotions, and the cry for help was unmistakable to ones so closely related. Dawnshadow's own cry urged them to come, and Kestri's calls encouraged them; this was wrong, this was bad, this was…human.
In heartbeats Dawnshadow's 'inner cat' had explained to them a problem in a way that they could understand, something that a mere human would find ridiculous and yet was true in the primitive mind of the birds: "These animals are a threat; they attack with no reason and could do it to you as well! Help me to get rid of them!"
Havlah and her gaggle stopped to stare fish-mouthed at the flock of birds nearing swiftly, and it was Mria who caught hold of her wits first and ran. The rest except Havlah followed her lead, and they were all screaming; the leader stood and stared at the birds, scavengers and seed-pickers, black heads and dark eyes and white tails flashing, crying, a innumerable symphony of angry caws and chirps.
Part of them descended on Havlah, and she screamed and waved at the feathery things assaulting her, clawing at her hair and in vain for her eyes, scratching against her arms which had become exposed as her sleeves slid down her arms as they were raised to cover her head. She staggered blindly away, and then turned and ran back to the Unaffiliated-Collegium.
Dawnshadow stared, open-mouthed as the flock of birds receded; she regained her thought as Kestri started to burble weakly. With a horrified gasp, Dawnshadow got to her feet and surveyed herself; most likely more of the bird's blood was on Dawnshadow rather than in Kestri.
"No…no, no! Kestri, hang in there!" Dawnshadow said, her body supplied with adrenaline that made her run faster, gave her more energy. In moments she was at the gates, but in her wake was both she and the bird's blood, dripping in crimson spots. "Kestri, don't die! Don't!"
:Snowsong…help…: Kestri said feebly, her breath shallow.
In the room, Snowsong (who had been awake since the first call, but had not been able to respond because his own Mindspeaking was weak) was staggering down the stairs, clutching his heart and the wall, knuckles white.
:Kestri…:
He was losing strength, consciousness, even as he made his way down the stairs. Finally he collapsed on his knees, and the loud thump brought Derik out of his rooms to look around. He spotted Snowsong on the ground, bending over his knees, and ran down the stairs to him.
"Snowsong! What's wrong? Are you alright-?"
"Kestri!" Snowsong shouted, sounding as if in pain though a quick check told Derik that Snowsong wasn't bleeding. "Kestri! Where is she? Where's my kestrel? Tell me!"
"Snowy – I mean, Snowsong – I don't know where that bird of yours is, but I'm sure-"
"No! Tell me where she is!" Snowsong shouted, grabbing Derik's shoulders and putting an emphasis on each word by shaking the Herald violently. "She's hurt! I know she is! She called for help, she would never do that if it were something small-"
"Snowsong! Herald Syrkaderik!" Dawnshadow cried in half relief, coming into the hallway. Snowsong and Derik looked to her, and the two of them froze completely when they saw the Changechild.
Her grays and arms were immersed in their combined spilled blood, Dawnshadow's arms riddled with blue-and-purple and slashes. Kestri hung limply in her arms, bleeding freely, the scarlet white of her bone poking through her bloodstained feathers. The kestrel burbled weakly, and Snowsong rushed to her, Derik not far behind, mind flashing back to his notes…
Red: blood. Kestri's blood! And Dawnshadow, hurt – a bird couldn't have given those bruises, only someone human, someone…
Blue! Those damn Unaffiliated did this, and I'm willing to bet Ranaena that this is Havlah Lebetter's work, too!
"Help her! She's not well!" Dawnshadow cried, proffering Kestri to Snowsong and Derik, eyes wide with fear. "Help! She's dying – you can't just stand there!"
"Here – let's go to the Healer's Collegium," Derik said swiftly, tugging on Dawnshadow's arm which was by now coated with a wet cerise sheen. "Hurry! Hurry!"
Even as they were running, Derik couldn't resist asking just when they were in front of the Healers' Collegium:
"What happened? Who did this to her?"
"It…" Dawnshadow opened her mouth to answer, but found her words being bitten off before they found their way out. To her total shock, she found herself saying: "It was me. I did this."
A/N: Anyone ever watch the movie Birds? ^-^;;