When she finally came back to herself she felt as weak as a kitten. Herald Kevyn sat next to her bed. A book was lying open on his lap but he was staring at her.
"How are you feeling?" He asked quietly.
She was certain something had died in her mouth but the drain on her power had stopped and much of it had been replenished, it had a distinct 'Vanyel', 'Stefen' and 'Y'fandes' flavour. "How long have I been out?"
"Just over a fortnight. We sent for a healer but he couldn't help you beyond making certain you did starve to death."
Sherri nodded, she had suspected that.
"What happened?" Kevyn asked as he offered her a glass of water.
Sherri drank the water slowly to avoid answering. "I don't know." She answered finally.
Kevyn didn't look like he believed her. That didn't matter so long as he didn't guess the truth.
"Would you like some soup? Your cook has been very worried about her 'little lady' and has been sending up soup every candle mark or so."
Sherri smiled. "I have been her little lady since I came into the title."
"Did this have anything to do with going into your mother's room?"
"I don't know." Sherri answered. She hated lying to him but it was better than the truth. "Has any mail arrived for me?"
Kevyn picked up a pack four letters off the table.
As soon as she touched the first she could see her Uncle Ethen sitting by a fire surrounded by ten men and women. He was relaxed, a sign nothing had happened recently. The letter contained the normal admonitions to stay out of the forest and practice her embroidery. He had also included a small medallion that was supposed to bring luck. She didn't even break the wax seal, instead she set it aside and reached for the next. This one was Favram. She could see him scribbling in the dark always listening for enemies. He had seen the disturbance at Ancar's court; a new mage that looked like he had been merged with a cat. This new mage had him worried and he had sent a letter on to Captain Kerowyn to express his concern. He sent his love and promised to buy her a new pony when he got home. The third was the weekly note scribbled off by Avren. He sat at a comfortable desk late at night. There was a great fuss over the sudden reappearance of Elspeth and he was rather amused by the courtiers jockeying for position as those who were very vocal against Elspeth or had spread rumours about her in her absence shrank into the shadows of court. The last was a surprise. This was the response to her letter to Queen Selenay, answered by Selenay in her own hand. She sat at a desk, ink stained her fingers, and a half finished illuminated poem sat next to the letter. She had been amused by Sherri's letter and not terribly surprised that Kevyn had disobeyed orders and went north instead of back home, he was an Ashkevron, stubborn to the bone. Sherri wondered if Van knew of his relation. The Queen was worried that Kevyn wouldn't recover from what ever disease he had caught in Hardorn. There were other undertones of concern but her training kept most of them from leaking into the letter as anything other than a feeling. She had written that she was looking forward to meeting Sherri and she was welcome to keep Kevyn as long as she could. This one Sherri did open and read quickly.
"Apparently I get to keep you." She said out loud.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Selenay says I am welcome to you as long as I can keep you and that you should have gone home to visit your relatives. You never mentioned you were an Ashkevron."
"It never came up." Kevyn shrugged and placed a bowl of soup on her lap.
Sherri was starving after her long fast and quickly started eating the weak soup. "How is your fever?"
"Gone." He answered. "I hope it wasn't contagious. I would hate to be responsible for nearly killing you."
"Don't worry, I was far from death." Sherri sipped the last of her soup. "Has any crisis come up?"
"None that couldn't be handled. I better go tell the healer you are awake."
Sherri waited for him to leave the room and quickly broke the seals on each of the letters and opened them. Satisfied it looked like she had read them she set them aside and settled back against the fluffy pillows and closed her eyes.
When she opened them again she was standing in the sculpted grotto Stefen had created. Her three friends jumped at her sudden appearance.
"Kechara, you had us worried." Van said. He looked drained and tired.
"I can't be long. They have just gone for a healer." Sherri quickly relayed what she learned from her uncles' letters.
"I am glad they made it through." Van said.
:You should have seen their faces when the gate opened.: Fandes laughed.
"Describe it later, they are returning." Sherri started the process of returning her to herself. "Oh, and next time give me a warning!"
She heard an echo of laughter as she opened her eyes just as the door opened and a man dressed all in green with a shock of unruly red hair and a very freckled face entered. He relied heavily on a cane which told her why he wasn't on the front. She knew instinctively he had been the one who had brought her peace in the end. He was also the one who had been worried about illness.
"Good evening my lady." The Healer smiled and assumed Kevyn's seat. "You are very lucky."
Sherri doubted luck had anything to do with it. When he reached out to touch her face she flinched instinctively.
"I am not certain." The Healer's eyes darkened at the unconscious movement. Still he touched her forehead and she felt a twitching feeling inside her head. She could see his worries in bright flashes. He thought her gift had suddenly manifested. He had been shown her mother's chamber and believed the touch of a ghost combined with the fear had caused her gift to flare to life. She also sensed he thought her gift was Empathy, which was only a small part of her problem. He didn't suspect her other abilities.
Suddenly he drew back and shook his head. Sherri saw a flash of knowledge swiftly suppressed. He had Seen her mage gift and the protections of Valdemar had done their work for the last time. He simply forgot his theory about her gift.
"You are looking much better. You should stay in bed for a few more days and take it easy for a couple of weeks."
Sherri nodded obediently. "Thank you Healer."
"If that is everything my lady, I best be off."
She reached over and pulled a drawer in her bedside table open. Inside was her pin money, sent to her by her uncles. She removed most of it and held it out to the Healer.
He hesitated. "I could not do much, my lady."
"I insist you take it. It was not for lack of trying. Besides, you have been away from you Temple for sometime and you deserve some reimbursement." Sherri dumped the coins in his unresisting hands. "Where am I going to spend it anyway?"
Healer accepted the money, twice what he would normally receive for a complicated Healing.
"Thank you, my lady." The Healer placed the money in his belt purse. "My temple's Herald and I will be leaving in the morning now that I am no longer needed here."
"Tell Housekeeper to prepare a lunch for you. I wish you all speed Healer."
The Healer smiled and left.
Sherri relaxed. She was exhausted from her little trip to the forest. It cost her more in terms of energy than if she had run the entire way three times.
Kevyn reappeared. "The Healer was most impressed with you. Apparently most nobility don't pay their bills so generously or quickly."
"He deserved it." Sherri shrugged. "Are you leaving soon too?"
Kevyn nodded. "The Healer could find no sign that the fever would return and there have been some new developments in the war. Elspeth has reappeared and is making her way back to Haven as we speak."
"I hope she can help end this war. I would like to see my uncles again."
"I hope so too." Kevyn resumed his seat next to her.
Sherri remained silent for a few minutes. "Who were they?"
"Who were who?"
"The two Heralds."
Kevyn paled and his eyes grew distant. "How did you know of them?"
"Was it in Hardorn?" She asked softly. She willingly took his hand and let the images into her mind. "Were you spying for the queen?"
Kevyn nodded.
"Were you ambushed? Who betrayed you?"
"We don't know." Kevyn admitted.
An image of a letter filled her mind. She Read letters for Vanyel, why shouldn't she do the same for this man who obviously need the knowledge to find peace. "May I see the letter?"
"How did you know about the letter?" Kevyn demanded.
"I see things when I touch people and objects." Sherri admitted. "Basically you told me of it."
"Why…How…" Kevyn stuttered.
"Let me try and Read the letter, maybe I can tell you who betrayed you."
Kevyn started to protest then stopped. Sherri suspected his Companion was suggesting he trust her.
"I would never do anything to harm Valdemar or the Queen." Sherri urged. "You may even Truth Spell me."
That decided him. He removed a battered, illegible letter from his tunic.
Sherri accepted the letter carefully. The images and emotions assaulted her immediately. The hatred of the writer. The fear of the messenger as he rode through Hardorn. The pain of the messenger's death. She saw the faces of the two traitors as clear as day, she even had names.
"Lord Inture and Jiles Cormbrack." She said. "You will find proof for the lord behind the fourth brick in his fireplace in his private study. The other has a favourite hiding spot at Hawk and Crown."
Kevyn accepted the letter back and quickly wrote down what she said. "I wish we had you before."
Sherri felt incredibly guilty. She could have been out there uncovering traitors instead of remaining safe here.
"Before the war the Queen was searching for traitors and if she had some one with your talents it would have gone much easier." Kevyn was much more alive now than he had been a few moments ago. "How do you deal with such a talent?"
"I never touch weapons other than my own, which was forged for me and no one else has used it. I wear gloves. I avoid touching people. It is easy to live with, you just have to adapt."
Kevyn tucked the letter and the paper with the names on it in his tunic. "Thank you, Sherri."
He kissed her cheek quickly and hurried from the room, eager to be on the road.
Sherri touched her cheek and stared after him. The kiss hadn't been as unpleasant as she expected. Actually it was quite pleasant. Even if he thought of her as a little sister. But why on earth would he think she would pull his hair?