Disclaimer: Okay, I don't own any of these characters or anything related to Valdemar, except Rondi, Awen, and Sovi. Everything else, so far, is property of Mercedes Lackey. Please read and review.

Chapter Four

Rondi sat in her room, staring at the curtains on her window. The school was still closed down, and as such she had no way to spend her days. She didn't speak to Kalira often at all, for Lavan had regained consciousness. They were building that special Bond between a Herald and his Companion. And lifebonded. Of course, Rondi wasn't sure if even they realized the bond ran that deep. But she was certain it was a lifebond, as was Herald Pol's, the Herald who'd spoken to her, Companion, Satiran.

With a sigh, Rondi turned to her bookcase. She had already read all of those, though. She was so bored! And she had nothing whatsoever to do, save for listen to the reports of the vrondi. And they had almost no minds!

If it weren't for Herald-Mage Vanyel, she mused. I wouldn't even exist. But…is that something to be thankful for, or not?

There was a knock on her door. "Come," she said lazily.

It was a servant. "Mistress, there's a Herald here to see you," she said incredulously.

What? Rondi wondered. And yet no Companion informed me…. "Is it the one who was here before?"

The servant shook her head. "No, he's younger, and says he wants to speak to you about a new Trainee."

Rondi bit her lip, thinking. "I'll be down momentarily." As the servant left, she sent out her mind to the Companion she only now sensed below.

:Who?: she exclaimed in surprise.

:I am Rondi,: she retorted. :Who are you, Companion? If you need to make certain of my identity, ask Kalira or Satiran, or even Rolan, for that matter.:

:I'm Sovi,: she replied. :My Herald is Awen.:

:Why are you here?: Rondi asked. This was a young Companion, no more than ten years. However, her Herald had to at least be on his internship.

:Lavan Chitward has awoken,: said Sovi. :And Satiran suggested, through his Herald of course, that we talk to you. You seemed to know more than you should. And now I know why.:

:Yes,: agreed Rondi, as she began descending the stairs. :Although kindly keep your Herald out of it.:

Rondi prepared her strange, penetrating blue eyes, and went into the parlor…where she encountered silvery green eyes as strange and penetrating as her own. She went into a full flashback mode, to the time when she was Deyana Ashkevron. And yet, in either life, she'd never encountered him before. Rondi shook herself out of the half trance when she realized he was staring at her strangely.

"How may I help you, Herald?" she said smoothly, trying in vain to cover up her strange reaction.

"Are…you Rondi Elivan?" he asked.

She nodded slightly. "I am. And you are Herald Awen." Dammit! She hadn't meant to let that slip.

"Uh, yeah. Herald Pol did say you had a strange way of knowing things."

Realization dawned on her, and she Mindspoke Sovi. :He's here to see if I have any Gifts, isn't he?:

Her silence was answer enough.

"Well?" Rondi said finally.

"Well what?" asked Awen.

"I assume, Herald, you are here to speak to me about something," she retorted. "And thus wonder what it is." She gestured to the many chairs about the room. "Please, sit."

Awen was a scant thumblength taller than her, and, besides silvery green eyes, was very unremarkable. He was very lean, and had dusty brown hair that seemed to have a tendency to fall into his eyes. His face was proportional, but neither attractive nor ugly. His skin was tanned from a lot of work outside. Likely, he was from farmer stock. He sat, and she sat in the chair opposite him.

"I was advised by Herald Pol that you might have information about Lavan Chitward," he said carefully.

"Then you were advised correctly," replied Rondi. "But I suspect you are really here to see if I have any Gifts."

Awen jumped, startled.

"Trust me, there will be no milk-white visitors on my doorstep," she continued. "I may have Gifts, but there is no Companion for me."

"S-so you are Gifted?" he asked, clearly confused by her.

"Perhaps," she said. "But I will say nothing to be taken to the Monarchs."

"Off the record then," Awen conceded. "I have to admit, I'm curious now."

Rondi just studied him. :What's he like, this Chosen of yours?:

:A true Herald,: replied Savi. :Mindspeech, mild Fetching, and some Foresight. He's good to his word. And if he's not, I'm good to it for him.:

:How old is he?: she asked suddenly.

:Twenty years next spring,: Savi said.

Rondi nodded, as if to herself. "Nothing I say will be reported?"

"Nothing," agreed Awen.

:Do you promise?: she Mindspoke, obviously scaring the life out of him, however momentarily.

:Yes,: he said finally.

:I have Mindspeech, obviously, and both types,: she said. :Other than that, I have a small bit of Fetching and a good bit of Empathy. I do have another ability, but I am not permitted to speak about it.:

:As you wish,: he said slowly. It was strange to speak to another human thus. So far, she'd spoken only with Companions, and, of course, the vrondi. She seemed to be feeling strangely attracted to him, which had never happened before. And the feeling didn't seem to be only on her part. And just damn Empathy, anyway.

:But I'm not going to be a Herald,: Rondi said, to keep her mind off it.

:Why?: asked Awen.

:Ask your Companion.:

He did so, then spoke to her again. :She says that you're special. You weren't meant to be a Herald, and have other duties that would interfere.:

Rondi nodded. "And that sums it up, I suppose," she said aloud. She withdrew the slight touch from his mind. "Although you really didn't need to have a…me under Truth Spell to confirm it." Naturally, Awen wouldn't know what a vrondi was.

"How did you know? No, wait," he said, "I probably don't want to know."

Rondi smiled, and nodded again. "I'd agree with you. If, of course, I were at liberty to discuss it."

Awen glanced at her oddly. "You are a very strange one, Rondi Elivan."

"Thank you, Herald," she replied. "I assume that is all you have to discuss?"

"Uh, yeah."

Rondi rose. "Good day, then, Herald Awen." She turned and left at that, leaving Awen sort of staring after her.