D I S C L A I M E R :

I may have created a few characters but I DO NOT own anything in these stories.  Valdemar, the Herald, the Companions, and most characters are the intellectual property of Mercedes Lackey.  I desire no monetary return on these stories and have written them solely for the enjoyment of myself and others who love Mercedes Lackey's books, of which there is not enough ;).

(Please don't sue, I am broke as it is…)

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~ Salvation: Chapter 1~

Kally poked her head through the rough hole in her floor to peer at the room below.  Her uncle was sprawled across the floor with a bottle next to him directly below her.  She knew from past experience that she would have very little chance to sneak past him to the door beyond.  Kally sat on her heels as she considered her options, which were very few. 

Gripping the edge of the opening she ignored the splinters that speared her hands and carefully lowered herself so she hung in the air.  Swinging her feet she started to rock back and forth until she had enough momentum to clear her uncle.  She landed on the ground just beyond him and hit her knees hard enough to scrape both knees through her thin breeches.

"Hey, what are you doing?"  She heard her uncle growl as he roused.  Kally ran for the door and out into the snow.  She didn't dare stop until she was in the barn.  It was only moderately warmer than outside.  She quickly gathered the buckets and ducked into a stall.

"Stay still."  She ordered the large cow.  She strained to hear footsteps approaching the barn.  As soon as she was finished with the cow she hurried into the next stall.

She was on her fourth cow she heard the footsteps she had been dreading.

"Get out here you worthless turd."  Her uncle roared.

Kally knew if she didn't obey immediately it would be worse.  She hunched her shoulders and crept out of the stall.

"There you are."  He grabbed her by the front of her shirt.  "I expect more gratitude from you."  His words were slurred and his eyes were bloodshot.

Kally didn't bother asking what he meant.  Ever since her Aunt had left her uncle and taken their children with her a month before, Kally's uncle had started to drink himself into a stupor every night and was invariably hung over and mean the next morning.  Since Kally was the only target for his cruelty she had learned to stay out of the way as much as possible.  When she couldn't avoid him she didn't fight back, which only aggravated him more.

"Look at me!"  Her uncle shook her so hard she saw stars.

Kally didn't obey knowing it would make matters worse.

"I should throw you into the rubbish heap with the rest of the garbage."  His hot sour breath made her nauseous. 

Kally was prepared for what happened next.  He drew back his massive meaty hand and struck her across her face.  Kally didn't cry out.  The next blow sent her flying against the wall.  When she landed she remained prone hoping he would think she was unconscious and leave.  Instead his attack grew worse.

His feet struck home against her ribs and abdomen.  He then picked her up and shook her again her head flopping about like a rag doll's.

Still she refused to cry out and remained limp.  Another blow to her face that split her lip.  Satisfied, he left her in a pile of hay and returned to the house.  Kally waited until she heard to house door close before she painfully roused herself and continued with milking the cows. 

Her eye swelled shut soon.  Just one more bruise among many that decorated her body in varying shades of green, yellow, black, and purple.  Once she was done with the cows she went out the side door to collect a handful of snow and held it to her sore face.  With her chores done she ran the entire route to the temple where she took classes every morning.  The pain in her ribs was bad this morning but she could risk being caught by her uncle again.  She arrived just in time to receive her breakfast and tea. 

It was her favourite part of the day since she was warm, she was fed, and she didn't have to worry about dodging blows.  The elderly priest only glanced at her injuries when he entered.  He believed her uncle's beatings were for her own good, to prevent her from following in her mother's footsteps.

 Kally enjoyed her reading lessons but found her writing and figuring lessons boring.  She used the time assigned to the other two lessons to read her small workbook which was already rather worn.  When noon arrived and the bell rang she was one of the first out of the door.  She hurried back to the farm knowing if she was late her uncle would be upset that his lunch wasn't prepared.  Inside she added more water and vegetables to the pot of stew over the hearth and stoked up the fire.  She also removed the dough she had prepared late the previous evening and shaped two round loaves that she placed in the bread oven to the side of the fireplace.  The food taken care of she placed a clean bowl on the table along with a spoon and a mug of fresh milk.

She ducked outside to fetch a new pail of water for the afternoon.  Her uncle was still absent when the soup and bread were done.

Kally filled a large bowl with soup and took one of the loaves and hurried out to the barn.  She retrieved her spoon from her hiding place and quickly ate the meal.  She heard her uncle's heavy footsteps slowed by a heavy load come towards the barn.  Kally hid her bowl and spoon then hid in a stall and pulled the musty smelling hay over her body.

Her uncle grunted as he heaved his load on to the sod floor.  Kally could smell blood in the air.  Her uncle had been poaching again.

Please don't let him find me.

Her uncle's cursing filled the barn as he hung the carcass in the coldest corner until he was ready to prepare it.

Kally let the breath she had been holding out as the door to the barn closed.  "Thank you."  She whispered as she shifted off the hay that had served as her shield.

Her uncle had brought a deer this time.  Kally's heart went out to the poor beast.

Collecting her bowl she ducked out the side door.  The weather had gotten colder warning her of the oncoming storm.

Using the snow she cleaned the bowl.  The little bit of bread she had left she ripped up into small pieces and tossed it on the ground for the winter birds.

Returning to the house she listened at the kitchen door until she heard him leave the room.  Opening the door just enough to see into the room she tested the air to see if he had been drinking yet.  She could smell nothing.  Satisfied it was safe she quickly placed the bowl back on the shelf and filled a bowl of soup for her uncle.

He returned just as she placed the bowl on the table.

"Have you eaten yet?"  He asked pleasantly.

"Yes sir."  She said.

"I am sorry about this morning.  I wasn't in control."  He said as he started to eat.  "I'll have some beer."  He gestured to the mug of milk.

Kally nodded and filled a mug for him.

"There's a good girl."  He ruffled her short hair.  "You drink the milk.  You are still a growing lass." 

Kally nodded silently and drained the rich white liquid.

"Your clothes are getting a little thread bare, remind me later to give you a bit of money for some more clothes later."

Kally knew that soon he wouldn't remember.  All of her clothes had gone with her aunt and cousins since she shared Vara's wardrobe.  All that had remained had been some summer clothes forgotten by her eldest cousin.

"I am going into town this afternoon.  Could I buy them then?"  She asked hopefully.

"No.  I'll get it later."  Her uncle pushed away from the table.  "You should go muck out the stalls."

Kally knew these were the early signs of the upcoming bad temper.  Nodding she left the warm room and returned to the cold barn.  She efficiently removed the soiled straw and fluffed the remainder.  Tired from her short night she climbed up into the hayloft and curled up next to some kittens for a nap.

Her dreams were disjointed and disturbed.  When she woke she heard her uncle below working on the deer carcass.  The kittens had curled up against her warmth.  She remained still and listened for all she was worth.  The sound of the knife working its way through the meat grated along her nerves.

Suddenly she heard her Uncle curse and storm out of the barn.  Using the respite she dug out her small collection of books and settled deeper into the hay.  She had just settled when her uncle returned.

He returned to the deer and the sound of the knife resumed.  Kally opened her favourite book.  It was a tale of a Herald's adventure almost a hundred years ago.

It was almost dark when he went inside and completely dark when she felt it was safe to emerge.  She tucked her books away and bid farewell to the kittens.  By now her uncle should be passed out and she may be able to return to the house.  Sure enough he was sprawled on his bed oblivious to the world.

Kally mixed dough for the next luncheon and scrambled up into her attic.  It was almost midnight.  She lay awake listening to the wind and snow whistle about the eaves.  At first she thought the sound of bells was from the village but they were just outside the door.  Worried someone had gone for a sleigh ride and had gotten lost.  She hopped down from the attic to intercept them before they knocked and woke her uncle. 

Pushing open the door she peered into the darkness and snow.  She could see the outline of a horse.

"Hello?  Are you lost?"  She asked.  The horse came closer but she could still not see anyone.

"Hello?"  Kally stepped into the darkness and cold.  The horse nudged her back into the house.

Kally acquiesced reluctantly.  "The village is just down the road that way."  She pointed towards the small hamlet.

The horse pushed her father back into the farmhouse.

"Excuse me, but what are you doing?"  She asked.  The horse now had his fore half inside the kitchen.  Kally lit a tallow from the banked fire.

 She almost dropped the little flame when she saw her visitor.  The horse was pure white that glowed even in the dim light with bright, blue eyes.

A Companion.

"Is your Herald hurt?  Do you need help?"  She asked.

"What's going on?"  Her uncle roared.

Kally's heart pounded in her ears.  Turn she saw him emerge from his room.

Kally drew closer to the Companion.

"An honest man can't even get a night's sleep!  What's a bloody horse doing in my kitchen?"  He roared at raised his hand to strike her cowering form.

Unwilling to let the beautiful Companion be injured she stepped away from the protection he could offer.

The blow never landed.  The Companion caught the fist in his powerful teeth.  Her uncle howled in pain and fell back.

"No don't do that.  He'll hurt you."  Kally cried and tried to push the Companion out the door.

The blue eyes, visible despite the darkness caught her eye.

:I choose you, Kally.  I will not let him harm you.:  A rich masculine voice said in her head.

Her uncle ran into his bedroom and returned with a length of firewood.

Kally's eyes widened when she realised his intent.  Instead of submitting this time she charged him.

:No Chosen!:  The Companion lunged forward his hooves striking the man just below the knees sending him to the ground howling in pain.

Kally pulled herself up and started to tremble.  "What am I going to do?  They are going to think I tried to kill him."  She started to panic.

:No they won't they will know it is his own fault.:  The Companion nuzzled her cheek.

Kally saw the blood spreading across the floor from his knees, a liquid darkness.  "He needs a Healer!"  She located a handful of towels and tied them about the wounds.

:Get on.  We can go fetch a Healer from the village.:  He urged, it was obvious he thought it was better to let him suffer.

Kally stared at the saddle, which suddenly seemed a league above her.  "How can I get up there?"

:Place your foot in the metal loop and pull yourself up.:  The Companion tried to explain. 

Kally, very short for her twelve years, stared at the stirrup that was almost eye level.  "I don't think I can do that."

:We can go outside and you can climb on while I lie down.:  The Companion offered.

Kally nodded and followed him numbly outside.  He kneeled in the snow and she scrambled into the saddle.

:Hold on to the saddle.:  He ordered and stood up as soon as she obeyed.

He set out at a full out gallop towards the small healing temple in the village.  Instead of letting her off he knocked on the front double doors with his hoof.

It opened soon revealing an apprentice Healer.

"My uncle needs a Healer."  Kally gasped out.

"You don't have a coat!"  The apprentice practically dragged her out of the saddle and inside not seeing her wince at the fresh pain the movement caused.

Inside he left her next to the door and ran off for his master.  A woman dressed in a nightgown soon appeared.  "Get her warm and feed her well.  I know which farm she comes from."  She ordered the young man.

He nodded.  "What about her horse?"

The Healer glanced over at the large film filling the doorway.  "That's a Companion.  He can take care of himself."  It seemed only minutes until the Healer vanished into the night wearing her Green robes.

The apprentice seemed at a loss as to what to do with her.  "Um, I guess you should come in."  He said to the Companion.  "What's his name?"

"I am not sure."

:You may choose.:  He said.

"Are you newly Chosen?"  The apprentice asked he closed the door behind the Companion.

Kally nodded.

"Come into the kitchen and I will make you a warm cup of tea."

Kally followed silently.  The Apprentice blanched when he saw the bruises covering her face and arms in the firelight of the kitchen fire.  "What happened to you?  Some of these are old."  He sat in a chair beside the hearth and started to prepare a poultice for her.  "Did your uncle do that to you?"

Kally nodded.

The apprentice swore and pounded on the herbs he was grinding with renewed vigor.

It was dawn before the Healer returned.  Kally was asleep curled up next to her nameless Companion in the lobby.

"She look horrible."  She commented as she used her gifts to examine the bruises.  It took her only a moment to Heal the bruises and knit the fractured ribs.  "We will have to send her on her way when she wakes up."

Kally stirred to see them towering over her.  Both looked upset.  "Is my uncle alright?"

"He is just fine."  The Healer grumbled.  "Well young Kally.  You should eat then be on your way.  We have prepared a bundle of clothes for you."

"Can I get my books?"

"Where are they?"  The apprentice asked.

"In the hayloft."

"Jiren, will you go collect them?"  The healer asked.

Jiren nodded.  "Where in the hayloft?"

"The most northern corner."  Kally answered.  Everything seemed a little strange.

The apprentice gathered a cloak and hurried off.

"Let's get you some food.  By the way, I am Brenna."  She glared at the Companion.  "You aren't getting her out of here in her condition."

The Companion seemed to laugh as Kally was led away.

Noon found her on the road wrapped in a warm cloak with her beloved books in a saddlebag and a bag of food to tide her over for the few hours it would take for her to arrive in Haven.  All signs of her uncle's beatings were gone.

:Have you chosen a name for me?:

"Yes, I have decided to call you Tam after the Herald in my book.  He was brave and bold like you."

:Very well, Tam it is.  I am honoured by your choice.:  He said solemnly.

The walls and buildings of Haven unfolded before her eyes as she crested the hill.  It was still some time away.

Kally stiffened when she saw the city.  In the centre was the Palace.  Her new home.

She felt something bloom in her heart that filled her every limb.  A warmth, a sense of welcoming, a feeling of coming home.

Home.