~Salvation: Chapter 3~

Kally was ready to pull her hair out.  Every time she turned around there was something else she had to learn and she hadn't even started classes yet.  If Elf hadn't been there to help her she wasn't certain what she would do.

"You are looking frustrated little sister."  Elf said from the door of the library as if just thought of her had summoned her.

"There is so much to learn."  Kally wailed.

Elf sat across from her at the table.  "Don't worry, you will cover it all in class."

"But I don't want to look like a country bumpkin."

"Many Heralds are what you call country bumpkins.  Most come from farms, only about a quarter are highborn."  Elf assured her.  "And you should see them trying to master what you consider little things."

"But I don't know how to curtsy or history or any of the other things you know."

"I have been a trainee for three years now, when I first was Chosen all I knew of Valdemar was that it was north of Karse.  I was a member of the wagon families and while I traveled through Valdemar and spoke the language but I didn't know what a Herald was or what that a Companion is not a horse.  If I can make it this far, you will be fine."

"I thought you were a highborn."  Kally blurted out.

"Hardly.  According to most of Valdemar I am barely one step up from thief."

"You sound just like me, I thought people from outside Valdemar talked funny."

"I worked hard to get rid of it."  Elf explained.  "Some people wouldn't trust me if I still spoke like a foreigner."

Kally had never met anyone from outKingdom and never heard anyone speak with an accent.  "Could you just say something like an outKingdomer?"  She asked hopefully.

Elf laughed and said something in a strange almost lyrical language.

"What did you say?"

"If you wish."  Elf answered.

"What language is that?"

"Shin'a'in.  You will probably meet a few soon."

"How many languages do you know?"  Kally asked eagerly.

"Plenty.  My father taught me while we traveled."  Elf smiled sadly.

"Does he live in Haven now?"

"No, he is dead."  Elf said, only a tinge of sadness in her voice.

Kally glanced at the scar on Elf's cheek.

"Yes, it was the bandits."  Elf said.

"I am never going to get used to you doing that."  Kally grumbled.

"I am used to these questions.  I have been asked them many times."  Elf pointed out.

"Does it bother you?"  Kally asked, hoping she had been offending her new friend.

"It bothers me more when the other trainees treat me like I am made of glass.  I don't mind questions."  Elf assured her.

"You don't ask me questions."  Kally said.

"Do you want me too?"  Elf asked looking Kally in the eye.  "I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

"I don't know."  Kally looked away from those knowing silver eyes.  "What do you know?"

"I know you are much happier to be here in the Collegium."  Elf started.  "I know you aren't close to your family."

"My uncle was upset that my aunt left him."  Kally said.  "I couldn't keep things the way my aunt did."

Elf reached over and grasped Kally's hand in her own.  "Did your uncle expect you to?"  She asked softly.

Kally nodded.  "I tried.  Really, I tried hard."  She felt tears gather behind her eyes.

"Easy little sister."  Elf soothed.  "He probably didn't want to be satisfied.  When someone is like that there is nothing you can do."

"I was always too slow or the food was too hot or too cold.  When he wasn't drunk he was nice enough but when he drank…"  Kally shuddered and she felt some tears make trails down her cheeks.

"Kally, look at me."  Elf prompted.  "You know none of what happened was your fault, right?"

Kally didn't answer.

"You know I would never lie to you, right?"  Elf forced her to make eye contact.

Kally nodded.

"It was your uncle's inability to deal with the loss of his wife.  It had nothing to do with how you kept house or whether the food was the right temperature.  You never have to see him again if you don't want to."

Kally started to sob.  Elf went around to Kally's side of the table and took the seat next to her.  Kally found herself sobbing into Elf's shoulder for the second time in two days.

:Are you feeling better?:  A voice asked in her head that sounded like Elf.

"Is that you?"  Kally sniffed and pulled herself together.

"Yes."  Elf smiled.

"I thought only Tam could talk like that."

"I am a Mind Speaker, you will be too one day.  Dayna said you could Hear but not Speak yet." 

"Who's Dayna?"  Kally wiped her tears away.

"My Companion."

"Tam thinks she's pretty."  Kally giggled, her spirits quickly recovering.

"Of course he does."  Elf grinned knowingly.  "Are you ready for some supper?"

"Of course!"

Kally preceded Elf down the stairs to the kitchen.  Mero was just about to ring the dinner bell when Kally slid into a seat.  When Kally had first met him she had felt an almost overwhelming urge to flee but she relaxed after she realised he was nothing like her uncle, he smiled at her, something her uncle never did, and he never made any movements towards her.

"Hungry?"  He laughed.

Kally nodded.  A plate of food was placed before her and she tucked into it.  Elf soon joined them. 

"I had wondered where you had hidden yourself."  Mero greeted her.

Elf accepted a plate for herself.  Soon three other Heralds appeared.

Kally realised she had moved closer to Elf until she was almost sitting on her lap.  She started to move away but Elf smiled at her reassuringly.  :I understand.:

Kally relaxed. 

"How was your riding lesson earlier?"  Elf asked.

"Good.  I wasn't as sore this time and Tam says I am much better at grooming now."  Kally said.  "Sherril says she'll teach me how to jump with Tam soon.  Can you and Dayna jump?"

"Yes.  Dayna does most of the work.  By the time you are done you will be able to do the unbelievable."

"Really?  Like what?"

"Have you ever seen trick riders, like at a fair?"

Kally nodded.

"When you are done you will easily surpass that."  Elf assured her.

"You will also be able to sleep, fight and eat in the saddle."  One of the Heralds said.  "You must be the new Trainee, Kally."

Kally nodded.

"A little overwhelming isn't it."  One of other Herald commented.  "I remember when I was Chosen.  I kept pinching myself for my first year."

"It's…different."  Kally said hesitantly.

"Have you met any of your year mates yet?"

She shook her head.  "Just Elf and Deven."

"There is another Companion out right now but there are no other new arrivals yet."  Elf injected.

"Do you know if Teren is going to have Orientation immediately, or is he going to delay?"  A Herald asked Elf.

"I believe he is going to delay until the other Companion returns."  Elf answered. 

Kally was relieved that she wasn't being expected to answer any questions.  She knew they were letting her sit the conversation out until she felt ready to join in.

Most of the subjects were beyond her understanding so she had nothing to contribute.

Finally the meal ended and everyone cleared the table.

"Is there anything you want to do today?"  Elf asked as they headed upstairs.

"Maybe we could go see the fair."  Kally suggested hopefully.  "If you don't have anything else to do."

"A trip to the fair will be fun."  Elf agreed.  "I'll meet you at the stables in a quarter candlemark then."

"Thank you Elf."

"It's my pleasure, jel'endra."

"What does that mean?"

"Little sister."

Kally smiled warmly and hurried to her room to dress for the trip.  Tam and Elf's Companion were waiting when Kally arrived.

Kally carefully saddle Tam, making certain she did everything she was supposed to do.

Elf arrived before she was done and saddled her mare.  Unlike Kally she didn't wear the Trainee uniform; instead she wore a warm suit of dark blue and a plush jacket instead of a cloak.  The dark colours with her pale skin and black hair were very striking.

"Are you ready?"  Elf asked as she settled in her saddle.

Kally nodded and scrambled into the saddle.

Elf led the way through the long curving main road to a large open park that now had stalls and people crowded within.

"This is the Traders Fair."  Elf explained as she dismounted

Kally dismounted as well but couldn't stop looking around.  The people here wore bright colours and strange styles.  The stalls were offering everything from food to clothing to trinkets.

She had never seen so much…stuff.

Elf followed as Kally went from stall to stall delighting in the assorted goods.  There was even a trick dog act.

"Do they like doing those tricks?"  Kally asked as they watched the dogs.  One was actually walking on just his forelegs.

"I imagine they like the treats they get for doing the tricks." 

Kally's brow furrowed.  "He doesn't hurt them, does he?"

Elf shook her head.  "If he did they would always watch his hand, ready to dodge."

Kally relaxed a little.  When the show was finished the largest dog trotted around with a box in his mouth for tips.

Elf dropped a few coins in the box and guided her away.  "These people cherish their animals, often they are their only companions on the road."

"Did your family have animals?"

"Yes, we had four wagon horses, Dusty, Honey, Granite, and Slate.  I had my own horse, Wind."

"Those are odd names."

"Granite was always steady, nothing could distress him.  Slate would act up at the oddest moments, like when we were putting the harness on him.  Honey was a darling and would let you do anything to her.  Dusty rolled every time we groomed her.  They were named for their personalities."  Elf explained.

"Do you miss your family?"

Elf got a distant look in her eyes.  "Yes."

Kally decided not to ask for more details.  "Do you know any of these people?"

Elf shook her head slightly as she brought herself back to the present.  "Several actually.  I visited most the other day.  Right now they are focusing on making a profit."

Kally looked around.  It was strange to think of the young woman beside her once belonging to these loud, boisterous people. 

"Where we come from rarely reflects where we end up."  Elf said suddenly.

Kally turned on her.  "You keep doing that.  I was just thinking it was strange to think you used to belong here."

Elf smiled.  "Sorry, perhaps our thoughts were just on the same path."

:Elf is starting to limp more.  We should go back soon.:  Tam commented.

Kally noticed Elf was favouring her right leg more than usual.

Elf shot a glare at the Companions.  "Dayna, I am fine."

"Perhaps we should go back.  Supper will be soon."  Kally offered.

"Very well.  Do you need help mounting?"  Elf asked/

"Nope."  Kally proudly mounted Tam with no help.

Elf mounted Dayna and led the way out of the Faire.  "Did you enjoy yourself?"

Kally nodded enthusiastically.  "Do you think they would let me have a dog?  I had one before I went to live with my uncle."

"I don't think that is wise.  You will be very busy with classes and he would be very lonely.  Heralds are often gone for over a year and who would take care of him then?  You could probably make friends with the Palace cats."

"There are cats at the Palace?"  Kally asked brightly.

"The Palace is right next to the Companion's Field, sometimes mice sneak into the palace."  Elf paused for a chuckle.  "You should hear the highborn Blues when they discover their clothes nibbled by mice.  You would think the Palace had collapsed."

"Blues?" 

"They are students that aren't affiliated with Healer's, Bardic, or Heraldic Collegium.  Some are highborn, they are often spoiled, and others are incredibly intelligent youngsters from around Haven here to learn skills the local temples and schools can't teach."

As they neared the Palace gates they could hear someone yelling and making a nuisance of themselves.  They couldn't hear what was being said yet.

Kally felt an overwhelming urge to run.

Elf dropped back so that she was close enough to touch Kally's hand reassuringly.  "Easy jel'endra.  Tam and I will allow no one to harm you."

:Don't worry.  With us here no one will get close to you.:  Tam echoed the sentiment.

Elf stayed close as they rounded the corner that obstructed their view of the gate.

"…she belongs to me now give the worthless chit back."  A large beefy man demanded.

Kally's heart raced and her eyes widened.  Her uncle had come after her.

:Don't worry, we are here.  If he so much as glares at you Elf will blast him to the farthest hells.  She doesn't tolerate cruelty.:  Tam said soothingly but didn't slow his pace.  :It is better to face him, prove to yourself he has no power over you.:

"Kally?  Are you alright?"  Elf asked with obvious concern and tightened her grip on Kally's limp hand.

"My uncle."

Elf nodded and straightened.  "Is there a problem?"  She directed her question to the guard.

The uncle turned on them.  "Get off that nag now.  You are coming back with me."

Elf made no movement but suddenly a wall of flame appeared between him and Kally.  "Leave."  Her voice was as cold as ice and left no doubt to any of them that she was fully prepared to make him burst into flame.

"She belongs to me.  You ain't got the right to take her."

Elf twitched an eyebrow.

"What should I do about him Herald?"  The guard asked.  Her lack of uniform misleading him.

Elf turned to Kally.  "It is up to you.  Should I torch him?"

Her uncle's eyes widened in fear.  He realised he was now at the mercy of the girl he had beaten and abused.  "Kally…"  His voice was high pitched with fear.

Elf gestured for him to be silent.  He started to sweat, and not from the fire which was casting no heat.  He almost appeared to shrink in on himself.

Tam offered her no advice.

Kally stared at her uncle.  He seemed a lot more pathetic now.  She was tempted for a moment to tell Elf to incinerate him, to avenge every bruise and every moment of fear she had suffered.  "Let him go.  He isn't worth it."  She said as coldly as Elf.

Elf banished the flames and her uncle staggered away from them.  The wide eyed guard stared up at Elf.

"Don't worry, it was only illusions."  Elf explained with a smile.  "He was a true bastard."

The guard nodded and waved them through.  "If he comes back, Herald?"

Elf glanced at Kally who was sitting much straighter in the saddle.  "I doubt he will."

"Would you really have lit him on fire?"  Kally asked.

Elf smiled mysteriously.  "Does it matter?"

"No, I guess not.  You knew I would say no."  Kally answered herself.

:I am very proud of you.:  Tam added.

Elf nodded.  "Do you feel better now?"

Kally held out one shaking hand.  "I can't stop that."

"Don't worry, that is just adrenaline."  Elf reached out and showed her hand was shaking.  "You needed to face him otherwise you would always fear him and fear could cripple you."

"Do you still fear the man who did that to your face?" 

Elf fingered the long white scar on her face.  "No.  I faced my fears."

"Did you threaten him with fire too?"

"That was just an illusion, looks fierce, but was really harmless."  Elf glanced at her hand.

"Are you going to answer me?"  Kally asked suspiciously.

"Someday."  Elf promised.  "For now, I am hungry and Mero is making berry pies today."

"Really?"  The events of the past few minutes taking second place to pie.

Elf watched with a small smile.  Kally still had some healing to do but she had taken several steps on the path to salvation from the darkness and pain that she had endured and still haunted her.