DISCLAIMER: Yay! I got reviews, I got reviews! *Does funny little dance, then notices people looking at her.* Oops. Are you here already? Hee. Hee. ^_^;;;

Um, anyway, I own no part of Mercedes Lackey, all characters are her property except, so far Rondi…you know, standard disclaimer stuff. If you want to sue me over it…find a life? I just had an idea, and noted there were so many places in Brightly Burning where I could stick my character. Anyway, without much ado about nothing (and I can talk about Kenneth Brannaugh until the moon turns into green cheese) here's the next chapter. But do keep reading and reviewing.

Chapter Two

As Rondi approached school, she saw something she'd been dreading. Loman was shoving Lavan into a wall, then to another bully, Derwit. She Saw the fire manifesting.

"No," she whispered. She spotted one of Lavan's friends, a boy named Owyn, and approached him quickly. "Distract them! We have to get Lavan out of there!"

Owyn looked startled by her concern, but nodded. He went up to the bullies and made up a question about a homework assignment he was doing for them. Rondi grabbed Lavan's arm and pulled him inside, out of the way. When Owyn came inside, she turned her charge over to him.

"Take him to your class," she told him, then went outside to confront Them.

"What's with ruining our fun?" complained Derwit.

"Your so-called fun is your death warrant," she replied coldly. "Don't expect me to warn you any more. Leave Lavan alone."

"Fine we'll just take it out on you." Derwit grabbed her wrist, twisting it.

With a slight gasp of pain, Rondi delivered a fierce kick to his side. "Don't touch me. Ever!"

Loman grabbed her waist, and Rondi kicked behind and upward and he collapsed in on himself. Tyron approached them, and Rondi face him squarely, challenging him.

However, the bell rang for classes to start, and Rondi turned on her heels, and went inside.

:What happened?: Kalira demanded not long after the lesson began.

Rondi showed her the memories of what had happened. :He should be fine now. I'll check at lunch, and let you know.:

:Okay,: Kalira replied sullenly, and subdued, and left.

At lunch, Rondi waited until Lavan left, and approached Owyn's table. No need for Lavan to be asking questions of her she'd really rather not answer.

"Owyn?" she said. "How is he?"

Owyn, again, looked surprised. "Lan? He's been feeling sick all day, especially when they took that boy to be flogged."

"Okay," Rondi replied slowly. "I just thought I'd ask."

Boy to be flogged? Rondi went to the vacant classroom she knew they'd be in. In fact, she saw Tyron go into the classroom, so she simply followed.

"I will not allow you to do this," she declared as she entered. They turned.

Tyron smirked, clearly displaying his stereotypical good looks. "And what could you do about it?"

Rondi arched an eyebrow, and broke the bully's hold on the boy. "That." She glanced at the boy. "Get out."

He didn't need to be told twice. He bolted.

Tyron waved his two henchmen away. They, too, left. "Let me guess. You're here to tell me to leave Scrub alone."

"Wrong," she replied. "I'm here to tell you to stop bullying everyone, particularly Lavan."

"Maybe I should just concentrate on you." He grabbed her, trying to force her to the ground.

Rondi struggled, but he was a good deal bigger than her.

:I'll send a Guardsman over!: Kalira cried.

:No,: Rondi replied firmly, though she was grateful for the Companion's offer. :I can deal with this myself, and this has to remain unknown for the time being.:

Even as she mindspoke, Tyron was trying to undo the trouser ties at her waist. Rondi yanked her legs free, and kicked upward. With a slight, "Oof," Tyron was pushed off her.

Rondi climbed to her feet. She called upon her power, and dozens of barely visible white clouds with bright blue eyes appeared around her.

"You will not touch me again," she said clearly to the frightened Tyron. "And stay away from Lavan Chitward. You will regret it otherwise."

Then, she turned and left.

Kalira mentally applauded her. :Great job. But what if he tells?:

:Tells what?: Rondi retorted as she dismissed the vrondi. :That he's afraid of a girl who somehow overpowered him, despite being about half his size? Or maybe tales of said girl being some sort of demon would be his excuse. Why would he tell?:

:Good point,: acknowledged the Companion. :You really shouldn't summon your vrondi though.:

:I don't, often!: she replied. :It was necessary this time.:

:Excuses,: she snorted. :Well, excuse me while I go eat.:

Rondi rolled her eyes, and climbed up the stairs to her class. There were a few suspicious, and some knowing, looks from her classmates, but she ignored them.

After school, she learned Lavan had been sent home early. Good, she thought. He'll be safe enough there. I fear for him when he comes back, though.

Surprisingly, Rondi seemed to hear Lavan's mind voice—perhaps from talking to Kalira so much.

:I hate them, I hate them, I hate them!: he thought, unknowingly projecting. :If they keep on coming at me, I'll kill them, I will!:

There was no question who "they" were. :Really?: Rondi sent dryly, trying to imitate his voice. :You, undersized and outnumbered, you're no threat to them. You can't even stop them from pushing you around. How do you propose even to impress them enough to leave you alone?: A moment later, she helped guide his Fire Gift to where it wouldn't cause harm.

Rondi knew it was cruel, but Lavan couldn't challenge Tyron or his lackeys. He wasn't any good to Kalira or the kingdom of Valdemar if he were dead!

The next day, Tyron's minions were looking for Lavan. Derwit, clearly not having learned his lesson, approached Rondi at lunch.

"Where's your little boyfriend Scrub?" he asked.

Rondi gave him a sidelong look. "I'm sorry. I don't have a boyfriend, nor know anyone named Scrub."

"Don't play games with me," growled Derwit. "Where's that Chitward boy?"

"Oh, him." Rondi took a bite of her food, then glanced at him again. "I believe he is home sick."

Derwit glared at her. "If you're lying…"

"What?" she asked. "You'll have me kick your ass again?"

He didn't reply. Him and his cohorts went back to their table, presumably to report to their veritable god Tyron.

Lavan didn't return for a few days, during which Rondi was picked on for a change. It was mostly insults, taunts and catcalls. They still didn't dare try to physically hurt her again.

One night, Rondi was sending out her mind to travel, like farsight. Suddenly, perhaps again because of her continual mind contact with Kalira, Lavan came to mind. She was instantly where he was, his bedroom.

As Rondi watched, he writhed in his sleep, seemingly in a nightmare. It was actually sort of funny, but endearing. He looked just like a small child. He stopped suddenly, as his eyes shot open. Then, he couldn't seem to move. Somehow, he must have sensed her presence, though.

:Tyron!: he shrieked in terror, purely in mindspeech.

Rondi felt the fire coming, and quickly directed it toward the hearth. The fire shot up, illuminating the room completely. It calmed only when Lavan did. Rondi pulled her mind back to her body, where it belonged.

Her physical eyes opened, and a massive reaction headache struck her.

"Ow…" she complained. "I haven't had one of these in a long time."

Once it had abated enough, she went downstairs to the kitchen to make some willowbark teas. She felt fevered, and felt she could boil the water on her forehead!

Finally, the tea was ready and Rondi swallowed it in one gulp, then went to bed. That tea was one thing she was glad she'd convinced her mother to buy.