A/N: For the sake of this story, assume that Krystal and Tremane are visiting the border to help out the mentioned Heralds. For those of you who've read Coup de Main, ignore the timeline. Thank you.

"Just my luck," Krystal muttered, picking herself out of the dirt. "My mare would decide to dump me in the middle of nowhere."

Well, it wasn't exactly the middle of nowhere. She wasn't more then a ten-minute walk from home. But still!

"Father is going to be furious with me," she told the trees, for lack of anything better to do. Besides, the silence unnerved her. "We were supposed to meet with those Heralds today. Lord and Lady, I am in so much trouble. If only I had a horse!"

Almost simultaneous with her words, a white stallion stepped out of the woods in front of her. He was fully tacked, with blue leather saddle and bridle, and he seemed to be looking for someone.

"Oh, this is too perfect," Krystal told him. "I ask for a horse, and you appear. You can't be a wild horse, either; even if someone could catch and tack one, you're far too beautiful. I wonder if you'd let me ride you?" She cocked her head to the side. The stallion's eyes seemed to glow, with warmth. "I think you would," she said, and walked forward. She swung her leg over his back and settled herself in the saddle.

Then he took off.

She screamed--she couldn't help it. The sudden speed combined with a painful jolt against the back of the saddle and the sure knowledge that they were headed east scared her very badly.

East...east...what's in the east? Could someone have trained him to kidnap me? Oh, gods, what have I gotten myself into?

Father is going to kill me.

It was sunset when the horse finally stopped his headlong rush. He shook his head rather violently, then stopped in a clearing containing a small house. Krystal dismounted and knocked, but there was no answer. The horse nudged her back.

"You!" She whirled. "This is all your fault! Here I am, gods know how far into Valdemar, lost, alone, and not even speaking the language! How in hell am I supposed....to..."

She trailed off as the stallion brought his head up and looked straight into her eyes.

His eyes were blue. A warm, welcoming blue that wrapped around her and held her in loving arms, a blue that surrounded her and filled her....

:Welcome, Krystal, king's daughter. I, Dixon, do Choose you to be my Herald. I love you, and I will never leave you.:

She stumbled back, a sob catching in her throat. "I....I can't! I can't be a Herald!"

"Why not?"

She whirled. Standing in the door of the house was a man, head cocked to one side. Reddish-brown hair fell over one bright blue eye.

"Excuse me?" she asked, carefully. "I don't understand you."

He swore (she could tell by the tone) and spoke again. "Sorry. Automatic translation. Why can't you be a Herald?"

"W-well, I can't! I have responsibilities at home, I'm my father's only child, I...I..."

"Things like that can be taken care of," he said, leaning against the door. "I'm Jemmie. Jadus, actually, but my parents said I have to grow into that name and it appears I haven't. You?"

"Krystal." His eyes widened.

"Tremene's daughter?"

"Adopted daughter, but heir as far as our people are concerned. You see why I can't be a Herald?"

"Good gods. That's going to cause some havoc at the ol' diplomatic table. Gema, love," he spoke to someone behind Krystal, "tell Rolan about this, all right?" Pause, then, "No, I can tell Dad and Kyril. They've got enough Mindspeech to hear me." Another pause. "Because it's better to tell too many then too few."

He focused on Krystal again. "What? What are you looking at?"

"Who were you talking to?"

"Gema. My Companion."

"Companion?" she squeaked. "You're a Herald?"

"Yeah. I'm not on-duty at the moment, so I'm not in Whites, and I didn't want to stay in the camp. So I ran off to the Waystation. Why?"

"B-but...but...oh gods!" She sat down and cried.