As always, I don't have any claim on Valdemar, Heralds or anything relating to them. They belong to Mercedes Lackey, who was kind enough to grace our world with her stories, for which I'm grateful. ^_^ I guess I half a sort-of claim on any original characters, though, so if you want to borrow them for any reason please ask first.
Sorry this chapter is so short. ^.^;; And I know that some people are getting impatient with me, but this is the kind of story I just can't rush. It's probably going to be the next chapter or two when Sera manages to find her Chosen. Sorry! Please have patience with me!
Oh! A note for Alannapurple: 'Seraphim' isn't so much another word for 'angel' as the
term for a TYPE of angel. I can't give you much more information than that, since I know very
little about the subject. ^.^;; All I know is that Seraphim, Cherubim and Principalities are all
types of angels (there are tons more, I'm sure). I chose 'Seraphim' as the name of my main
character because I thought it suited well (with the wings and all). Besides that, 'Principality'
doesn't sound like a name, and the shortened form of 'Cherubim' is Cher (which I didn't like)
so....there you have it. *shrug*
I had never been so tired in my life.
Laying down with a heavy sigh, I curled my legs under me and rested my head on the ground, closing my eyes. It had been YEARS since I had actually laid down to sleep, as I preferred standing, but I was so tired I didn't think my legs could support me for the whole night.
:Who knew Karse was so FAR away.: Lani whined.
I lifted my head- which felt like it weighed a ton- to look at her. She was standing a ways away, near the stream; we had stopped by a Waystation for the night, even though none of us had Heralds to use the facilities the Station offered. It was just somewhere off of the road where we would be out of sight and could rest without TOO much worry.
Not that there was much in the world that could take on THREE grown Companions, but still....
Even though we had passed a town (although it barely counted as a 'town', with only two streets and a handful of houses sprinkled about the surrounding countryside) only a candlemark ago, the Waystation has seemed out best bet, mostly because- and again, it went with the fact that we had no Heralds- we had no way of asking for shelter. Unless one or more of us wanted to Speak with several people; inkeepers, stablehands and such.
And none of us were particularly jumping to do that.
Even though I've already Spoken to that boy Micca. It's best not to continue with bad habits.
And so we were borrowing a Waystation.
:It's another country, Lani.: Meriol pointed out, pacing toward her; presumably to get a drink from the bubbling brook, :of course it's going to be far away.:
Lani turned her head to look at me. :You HAD to be Called to somewhere outside of Valdemar, didn't you?:
I snorted. :Like I had a choice in the matter?:
:And you know what the worst part is?: She sighed mentally and wandered over to stand beside me while Meriol parched his thirst and rinsed the road-dust from his mouth. I simply continued to pretend I was a rug. :The worst part is that I was stupid enough to have all this equipment put on, and now I can't get it OFF!:
:You're the one who insisted on coming with me.:
:Well....Meriol insisted, too!:
:Sure,: Meriol groaned, :drag ME into this.:
Ignoring Lani's complaining, I laid my head back down in the grass and shut my eyes tightly. I was too tired to dredge up the energy to get a drink, even. Companions were supposed to tire less-easily than horses....yes, that was true, but we had been trotting non-stop for a full day and it was getting to me.
More than horses or not, we were all in need of some rest.
And that bothered me to no end, as the tugging of the Calling at my heart didn't let up, even in sleep.
:How far do you think we've gotten?:
I didn't answer Lani's question in the hopes that Meriol would do it for me. I just wanted to die....or sleep, whichever....
:Pretty far, I'd wager.: Meriol said thoughtfully, and I could hear shuffling as he lowered himself to the ground a few feet away from me. Apparently he intended to lie down for the night as well. :It averages three days from Haven to the Karsian border by horse, but that's counting rests and that the horse can't trot the whole way....we've been trotting since dawn, and it's after sundown now. Aside from that, our trot it the equivalent of running to a normal horse-:
:In Valdemarian, Meriol.:
:We should reach the border about noon tomorrow, or shortly after. Happy?:
:I will be once we get there.:
:Whiner.:
I sighed heavily, my breath stirring the grass in front of my nose. Another half a day of traveling before I reached the border....and the Bright Lady only knew how long it would be after that before I found the town that Soul was in. I hope I make it in time.
I was worried, yes, but I had good reason to be.
All Callings were urgent, I had been told, but somehow mine was....more urgent than normal, I suspected. There was some danger to the Soul I was Feeling, and if I didn't get to them in time....I didn't know what would happen, but I was sure it wouldn't be good. The desperation I had originally anticipated would set in soon, I was sure, and when it did I was afraid I would panic....
....and I had Lani and Meriol to worry about.
Bless them for caring, but if THREE Demon Horses walk into Karse....we're looking at a possible war.
:Hey Sera?:
:Hm...?: I asked muzzily, already half-asleep. :What is it, Meriol?:
:I was thinking-:
:First time for everything.: Lani cut in, her Voice sounding drowsy.
Meriol ignored her. :I was thinking that Lani and I shouldn't go into Karse with you.:
:Huh?: My eyes opened and I turned my head to look at him. I had been thinking that, but I hadn't said anything, and I certainly hadn't expected him to come to the same conclusion I had. :....what?:
:The relationship between Karse and Valdemar is rocky, still, and a lot of people don't trust us.: He explained worriedly. :I hate to say it, but it isn't a good idea for me and Lani to go with you into Karse. They might think it's an invasion or something. Your chances of NOT getting a crossbow bolt to the chest are better if you're alone.:
:But- but-: Lani sputtered, wide-awake again. :We're supposed to....I mean we're....:
:We're supposed to help her.: Meriol agreed. :But it's not helping if we cause a panic and get Sera killed. Do you see what I'm trying to say?:
I did, obviously, but I was afraid that Lani wouldn't agree. Meriol had always been more logical than she, in any case, and she had always been stubborn....but if worse come to worse and she wanted to follow me across the border, I knew that Meriol had already made up his mind and would keep her back for me.
One more reason for me to love him to death.
Lani was staring at Meriol in disbelief. :You're saying we should leave her to go into Karse ALONE?!:
:Lani,: I interrupted, miffed, :would you PLEASE stop talking about me as if I'm not here? For your information, I agree with Meriol; I've been thinking about that for some time, I just wasn't sure how to bring it up.:
:Sera-:
:He's right, Lani! The people of Karse are still suspicious of Companions. They may not panic if a single one shows up in their midst, but I'm nearly one-hundred-percent SURE that they would freak out at three.:
:But, Sera, Gwena wanted us to-:
:Think.: Meriol told her. :Did Gwena SAY to go into Karse with her?:
:Well....no, but-:
:Then we don't go.: His Mindvoice was firm when he interrupted her, before she could try to tell him it was implied. He had put his hoof down on the subject. :We should all get some sleep, now, I think. We have more to do tomorrow. Sera more than anyone else. Goodnight.:
And just like that there was silence. Lani's Shields clamped down; she was sulking, and probably shouting at us both in indignation, but we couldn't Hear her, so it didn't matter. She'd be over it by morning.
I wasn't angry with her.
Lani was just concerned for me, as was Meriol.
Even through the seriousness of my current situation, I gave a mental smile.
What would I do without them?
I fell asleep with that thought still ringing in my head, tired as I was. I would need as much rest as I could get if we were to make it to Karse by the following afternoon; that was, assuming Meriol's calculations were correct. I was fairly sure that they were, too, but there was no way to know for sure.
Things change.
The weather could swing toward a storm.
Or we could come across a downed tree in the road and have to take another.
There were any number of situations that could occur and change our plans.
An astronomical number, really.
:Sera...?:
:Hm....: I mumbled something incoherent in my sleep before my mind drifted back into oblivion.
:Sera?: A nudge to my side and Lani's insistent Voice prodded me awake again. :Come on, Sera, this is important.:
:Uhh....Lani...?: I cracked my eyes open and turned my head to look at her, my thoughts foggy. A few feet from me, deep and peaceful breathing told me that Meriol was still asleep. How long had we been asleep FOR? By the stars and the moon that hung overhead, it wasn't morning yet....so what was the problem? :Lani?: I repeated louder, a little more awake, :what's going on?:
:Shh. I don't want you to wake Meriol.:
:....Lani, what are you talking about?:
She regarded me from where she was standing, just to the side. Her eyes seemed to be particularly blue....shockingly blue. Something was off, but I couldn't quite place what it was....a strange feeling coming from her....something familiar.
Eerily familiar.
:Lani?:
A short hesitation, then; :that town we passed....:
:Weygandt?:
:Yes.: She agreed. :I'm going there.:
I hadn't expected that, and blinked in surprise. :Um, what for?:
:For Denny.:
More confusion. :....who?:
:Denny.: Lani repeated, :a little boy, Sera.:
:A little-?:
:I can see him, you know,: a sigh and her Voice took on a far-away tone; :his hair is brown and his eyes are green....except during the summer, and then they're more blue than anything else. I can Feel him. His mind is so close....:
A sudden shock jolted through me, almost physical in nature. I was on my feet in the blink of an eye and facing Lani, going over her words in my head. The way she was sounding, and what she was describing....but....
I shouldn't have been as surprised as I was.
She had already warned me that it would be soon.
:Lani....: I whispered, :your Calling? Is that what you're saying?:
:Hm....I think, yes.: Her head tilted downward and she seemed to be Feeling for something. :I think.: Looking up at me, she shrugged mentally. :I'm sorry, Sera. I really want to go with you....to make sure that you're alright and everything, but-:
:No worries,: I chuckled softly. I knew what she was saying, of course; there was no choice in the matter. :Some things are more important, Lani.: I gave her a reassuring 'smile'. :Besides, you already told me you'd be Called soon, right? I've been half-expecting it for a while now.:
It wasn't a complete lie....I had been expecting it, but I'd been a little preoccupied and it had slipped my mind....
:Now,: I continued with a mental wink. :I just don't have to worry about you stupidly following me into Karse when I get there.:
:Stupidly-?!: Lani demanded indignantly.
:It WAS a concern.: I chuckled, shaking my head.
:Sometimes I hate you.: She flicked her forelock out of her eyes and spun on her heel to leave, kicking up several tufts of grass in the process. After a few seconds she paused and turned back. :You lucky nag, now you get to have HIM-: a mental nod toward Meriol, who was still sleeping a few feet away; :-all to yourself. Oh, and in case I forgot to say it before,: she called, trying not to wake Meriol up in the process, :good luck, Sera.:
:You too, Lani.:
:Huh.: Blue eyes twinkled merrily, even through the darkness; :thanks. Meet you back in Valdemar, right?:
:You've got it.:
:It's a date.: A mental wink and Lani vanished into the shadows of the main road.
I watched where she had disappeared for a long moment, smiling to myself; I could already see just how happy she would be with Denny....it echoed how happy I would be when I managed to find the Soul I was in search of.
She was lucky, really....
She comes along on MY Journey and just happens to come across her own Chosen?
I sighed and lowered myself back onto the ground. Whether Lani had left or not, I was still going to need my rest. Though....I was already feeling a sense of relief. Now I just had to worry about Meriol when we got to the border, and that was far easier than worrying about both of them. Mostly because Meriol was smart enough to stay out of trouble, and Lani was....
A pain in the rump sometimes, much as I love her.
The grass brushed my nose when I laid my head down and closed my eyes, but I ignored it.
I was still exhausted....
....and the tug at my Heart was getting stronger by the minute.
Tomorrow. I promised myself. I'll find that Soul tomorrow.