CHAPTER 12
Selenay sighed as she sank into the comfortable chair at her desk. Neither were not what one would expect of a Queen but she refused to have them replaced. In her inner sanctum comfort reigned over style.
A stack of personal letters waited for her. The top was addressed from the Fortress of Sorrows, she agreed with Sherri that the title was very silly. Using a silver letter opener she broke the seal.
Selenay was expecting a light hearted letter from Sherri like the ones she had come to expect, filled with humour and anecdotes from the north, instead the bold writing was definitely that of a man. Her Uncle Avren. Selenay remembered hearing he was going home to visit his niece and was expected back in a few months but why would he write her and not the Lord Martial.
When she finished reading the letter she was no longer smiling, in truth she was stunned. It was rather vague about exactly what had befallen Sherri but he was requesting Herald Talia, her Queen's Own, to attend her.
"Sweetheart, is something wrong?" Selenay's husband and consort leaned over her shoulder to read the letter. "Is that the same Sherri who told us about the dual forgeries?"
Selenay nodded. "Do you think it has anything to do with her Gift? He doesn't say what happened."
"Maybe. True Sight is an enigma, if she were Chosen the Companions could tell us more."
"I asked why she wasn't Chosen. Caryo wouldn't give me a direct answer, only that she could be trusted."
"She would discover their secrets. If she could Read ancient maps and find us the evidence needed to make your verdict stick she could easily read them."
Selenay nodded. "I will write and say they should bring her down. I hope Talia can help her, I would really like to meet her in person."
"She we send a Herald to bring her back? She is a valuable resource we don't want to lose."
"I will send Herald Kevyn. He can be spared from his Mage classes for a while and he knows her."
~ * ~
Sherri studied the perfect petal on the flower, amazed at it symmetry. Before she had been unable to look at the flower without sensing the work Stef had put into making this grotto.
"She is not dead." Van said in quiet conference with Yfandes and Stef. "How can she be here for so long?"
"I don't know. She doesn't even seem aware of us, like she is in a trance."
:Perhaps she has left her body.: Yfandes suggested. :If something traumatic happened where she could not escape she may have sent herself here, to the place she considers the safest.:
"That would also explain why she can't think of why she is here." Van agreed. "So how do we convince her to go back?"
:I doubt we can. She has to be called back to her body. And who is going to know to do that?:
"What about her Herald Kevyn? She trusts him and considers him a friend and he is strong enough to contain anything she causes when she wakes up."
:He isn't a strong mind speaker. He can Speak to his Companion and a few Heralds but that is about it. Besides, she is not listening. I would give a great deal to know what happened.:
"She mentioned her uncle Avren returned. He may have done something." Stef suggested.
"Like what? What would an adept mage fear so much that she would flee her own body?"
"Not a clue. Maybe it was a series of incidences that finally drove her over the brink. Like her uncle's return, our 'death's' the end of the Mage storms, the loss of Node energy. Maybe the Storms were making her unstable. I wish we could have shown her that we had returned." Stef leaned against the tree.
"It is going to be at least a century before we will have enough power to manifest, even to her." Vanyel stroked Yfandes' neck. She no longer glowed like a beacon. The Mage Storms took as much energy from her as it did from the human ghosts. As it was they were mere wraiths compared to what they had been before. The veil between them and the world of the living too thick for even Sherri to see through. Something they all regretted.
"Maybe we should try and trigger her memory. Perhaps that will be enough for her to return to herself."
"Worth a try. I hate to think what will happen if she dies while in this state."
~ * ~
Kevyn dismounted in the courtyard of the keep and stared up at the imposing walls. The last time he had been here everything was alive and bustling. Now it reminded him more of a graveyard.
"This place is…eerie." His yearmate, Herald Myra, commented. Her usual energy subdued by the sombre atmosphere.
"Normally it isn't like this. It is normally like a hive of people bustling around, each doing their own job."
Kevyn led the way up the stairs to the massive oaken doors.
Before he could knock they swung silently open making both Heralds jump.
"Oh Herald Kevyn! It is good you could return." A round housekeeper said hopefully. She was dressed completely in black like she was in mourning.
"This is Herald Myra. The Queen received a letter that Sherri needed help." Kevyn said, trying not to betray his deep concern.
"Our poor little lady." The housekeeper shook her head and led the Heralds into the Main hall. "She just stares at nothing. We can't reach her. The poor little thing."
Myra glanced at Kevyn. She knew he was wound tighter than an artificer's spring. She thought he was probably in love with this mysterious Countess.
"My lords, Heralds have arrived from Haven." The housekeeper said as she knocked on the library door.
"How many are here?" Kevyn asked, praying they hadn't heard about his and Sherri's kiss. It was likely Myra would be making the trip back by herself if they had.
"Lord Ciro arrived just a few candlemarks ago. The rest have been arriving over the past few days. Lord Favram arrived just about a fortnight ago. The poor boy refuses to leave our little Lady's side."
Kevyn sent a quick prayer to the Lord and Lady as the door opened. Since he was the Herald in charge Myra let him take the lead.
The tall, muscular man looked him over slowly. "You are Herald Kevyn."
Oh no.
"Yes sir, I am." Kevyn steeled himself for whatever may come next.
"Degane, sit down. You hurt him and we won't find out why he's here." Someone said tiredly from within the room.
Kevyn relaxed.
"Wait until after he says his piece then pound him into the stones." Someone else suggested.
Kevyn tensed. Myra hid a laugh.
:As long as you can help their beloved Sherri they will not harm you.: Dominick suggested. :But you should still start saying how honourable your intentions are. I am not carrying two invalids back to Haven.:
"Come in Heralds." A quiet steely voice ordered.
Ciro stood aside and grumbled as he took his seat in one of the battered chairs arranged in the room.
Kevyn was tall for a Valdemaran but these men were all taller than him by nearly a foot. Somehow they weren't nearly as overwhelming when seen one at a time. "Your letter said Sherri was in need of a Mindhealer. What's happened?"
"Sherri?" The youngest asked with a growl.
"We are friends, sir. No more than friends."
"Then how did you break her heart if you were just friends." The youngest challenged. This one must be the daredevil spy Kero was always complaining about. He had a nasty tendency to ignore orders, when he saw an opportunity he took it. Of course this helped him gather the most in depth and useful information.
"I didn't break her heart. I swear! She lost some friends just after I left."
"Lost some friends? How would you know if you had left already?" The eldest asked.
Kevyn had a sinking suspicion that Sherri was just fine and this was a trap for him. "She wrote me about it. They were her closest friends. Is something really wrong here or are you just going to grill me."
The youngest uncle's eyes narrowed. "When was the last letter you got from her?"
"Early spring. I have written back several times but I assumed she was busy with planting. Would you care to tell me what is going on?" Kevyn noticed four of the six uncles were still tensed to fight. He doubted he would get out alive if they decided to rush him. The only two that were watching him calmly were the two eldest.
Avren stood. "I am glad you could come. I hope the Queen will allow her Herald to help our niece."
"Allow? If Talia wasn't busy she would have come herself." Myra snorted, she was never very diplomatic.
"The queen sent this for you." Kevyn held out the sealed envelope.
Avren read the contents quickly. "Follow me. The rest of you stay here."
"I am coming." Favram insisted as he stood.
Myra raised an eyebrow and glanced at Kevyn. "You know the Countess better than I. You go, I'll stay."
Kevyn nodded. He was very glad Myra had volunteered to come with him. She was officially supposed to be resting but the tiny red head never sat still for more than a minute. "You should sit down, especially after riding all day." He ordered.
Myra tossed her red braid over her shoulder. "Very well oh wise Herald."
Favram turned his attention on the smaller Herald. He hadn't noticed her before. "Weren't you in Hardorn?"
Myra nodded. "And you are the legendary Favram Demonbrother."
Favram actually blushed. Myra kept him from following Kevyn and Avren from the room.
Avren shook his head and led Kevyn up the stairs to Sherri's room. "Daya has tried to help her but she can't do anything beyond a tea that does nothing."
"What happened? Is she sick?"
Avren paused. "Has she ever told you about our sister?"
"She showed me the room the first time I was here and said her mother killed herself."
"She was trapped in there for a candlemark just over two months ago. She has not said a word or responded to anything since." Avren continued up the stairs.
Kevyn was uncertain what he would find in Sherri's room, a raving lunatic, a silent shadow, but not a motionless, lifeless doll. "By the Lady. She has been like this for over two months now?"
Avren nodded. Kevyn knelt at her feet and gathered her slender, scarred hands in his. They were cold and clammy to the touch.
"Do you know about her Gifts?" Kevyn asked.
"Gifts? Like Heraldic Gifts? I didn't know she had any."
"She does, among them is the ability to see ghosts." Kevyn stood. "She has a very rare Gift called True Sight. The sad fact is most people who have powerful True Sight go mad."
"So this Gift drove her mad? Then why aren't all Herald's mad?"
"Simple, she is the only strong True Seer in Valdemar, Hardorn, Karse, Iftel, and probably much farther south. I don't know if Talia can call her back but it would be better if she tries as soon as possible."
"We'll be saddled and ready to go in a Candlemark." Avren said.
"It would be much faster if it was just Myra and I that rode back with her. I guarantee you have no horse that could keep pace with us. You have my word I will watch over her until you arrive." Kevyn was already planning what inn they would stop at that evening.
:Juilia is worried about Myra. I don't think she is up to a mad ride back to Haven just yet.: Nick warned. :I agree, we have to get her back to Haven fast.:
:We'll leave Myra behind. She could relay to the uncles what is Happening with Sherri.: Kevyn suggested.
:You get to tell Myra.: Nick warned.
Kevyn already knew how the little firebrand was going to react. She would insist she was just fine and probably ride after them.
"I am going to ask if Myra is willing to ride back with you. She can relay Sherri's progress as we ride."
Avren nodded stiffly. "I would appreciate that. When Sherri is whole again you can explain just what your relationship is with her and why you knew about this Gift and we didn't."
Kevyn grimaced. "You better have a maid pack a nightgown and a few changes of clothes for her. I would like to leave as quickly as possible."