CHAPTER 14
Kevyn could hear the angry roars of the Demon brothers despite the closed door. The Healers had agreed they had run out of options for Sherri. Now they only had to choose whether to let her drift away or to help her go.
He went to the door that led to the small private garden where he had left Sherri. There were only two ways into the garden, this door and an ivy covered gate on the opposite wall.
A large white form caught his eye. A Companion was standing with his nose resting in her hands. He almost said something when Sherri looked up at him.
"What under the blessed sun am I doing here?"
Kevyn almost choked. "You were unresponsive for three months. You didn't even flinch when they pricked you with a pin."
Sherri stroked the Companion's soft forehead absently. "Three months?"
Kevyn nodded. "We just gave up on you. Would you care to share exactly what the hell happened?"
Sherri stood and brushed out her nightgown. "After I eat. I am starved. I assume Uncle Avren is here."
"Him and the other five. They are threatening murder at the moment."
"If you could find me a robe I will talk to them." Sherri suggested.
The Companion nuzzled her hand.
"Did he Choose you?" Kevyn asked, still not believing what his eyes told him.
Sherri smiled. "Yes. Now please find me a robe."
Kevyn walked back into the room just as the door burst open.
"Don't you dare kill her!" Favram roared.
"I have absolutely no intention of killing her." Kevyn promised.
"Uncle Fav. Please calm down." Sherri urged from the door.
"Sherri!" Suddenly her feet were dangling over a foot off the ground and she couldn't breathe.
"Uncle, please let me down!" She managed to gasp.
He loosened his grip but that was all. The other uncles filled the door. Several poor healers and Herald Talia tried to get to her.
"What happened?" Ciro demanded placing a kiss on her cheek. Soon she was surrounded by her uncles and was almost completely hidden from sight.
"What happened?" Talia asked as soon as she got close to Kevyn.
"She was Chosen." Kevyn said with a shrug. "Her Companion is out in the little garden."
"I can't believe it, she looks like she has never even fallen into a coma." Talia shook her head. "She certainly knows how to defang those uncles of hers."
"Thank all the gods for that." One of the healers mumbled.
"Please, let me sit down." Sherri said calmly.
The massive men quickly moved to let her sit on the bed. They were all asking questions in a loud, unintelligible cacophony.
"I am very sorry if I have worried you." Sherri tried to say loud enough to be heard. "But would you believe me if I told you she still haunted that room?"
All six men fell silent.
"Besides, none of you have been at the keep for more than a few months since I was five. When would I have told you I see ghosts?"
"I was home just a few years ago." Favram pointed out.
"You also brought me a dress designed for a ten year old." Sherri pointed out. "I only told Kevyn because he is a Herald and my friend."
"Do you love him?" one of the twins asked.
Sherri glared at him. "I have more wits than my mother. I would not get pregnant."
The uncles exchanged unreadable glances.
"You didn't give him a hard time did you?"
Their guilty glances told the story clearer than words.
"Lady, protect me from idiot uncles." Sherri rubbed her forehead.
"That is hardly called for." Buren, the second eldest, protested.
"Isn't it? Kevyn, please let me apologize for their behaviour. The cold of the north must have damaged their minds." Sherri leaned to the side so she could see him.
"The Countess needs some rest." The healer stepped forward. "If you want to visit her later you have to leave now."
They hesitated for a moment before leaving and closing the door behind them.
Sherri shook her head. "I hope they weren't too hard to handle."
"No worse than hard headed Heralds." Talia assured her. "I am sorry, I am Herald Talia."
"That was you, the female voice."
"You heard me? Why didn't you answer?"
"I heard you but when I tried to get close it…hurt."
"Hurt?" Talia asked, confused.
Sherri bit her lip. "It was like touching a nightmare."
"A nightmare? You Read her." Kevyn said with dawning realization.
Talia comprehended what had happened. "I am so sorry, no one should have to see that."
"At least they were distanced. My uncle Avren on the other hand." She paled and shook her head. "He thought I was being beaten because I reacted with fear to his grabbing my hand. I could feel every blow he imagined I had taken. I could see the men dying that he had seen dying. I couldn't break it. I tried. When I realised where I was and that I was not being beaten or in a battle I was locked in my mother's room."
"Why were you locked in there?" Kevyn asked.
"Avren was going to find whoever was beating me and kill him." Sherri answered candidly. "Not something I ever want to see again. Now please, fill me in on what I have missed, where I am, why I have Companion chattering in my head…yes you are chattering…and why aren't I Reading anything?"
Kevyn laughed and Talia hid a smile. Definitely Chosen.
"We used magic to remove every trace of the people who have been here." Kevyn explained.
"Magic? Why? Don't you need to conserve your Power in case there is a need for it?"
"We considered it worth the price. Your Gift is rare and very useful. According to the Karsites, a powerful True Seer is a Holy person." Talia explained.
Sherri snorted. "If you have ever seen my thoughts you would know that I am far from holy."
"I think it is mostly from the fact that you are almost impossible to deceive. I read an old text that mentioned True Seers, it said they were revered as gifted by the Gods." Kevyn explained.
Sherri snorted. "Gifted by the gods indeed. Now, Where am I?"
Kevyn smiled. She was back to normal. At least what he thought of as normal. "Haven, in the House of Healing."
"Haven? Couldn't you have just taken me to one of the Healing temples in the north? Never mind, have I missed anything important? Why was I Chosen? Can I get something to eat?"
"Is she always so…" Talia searched for the right word.
"Imperious? When I first met her she was. The second time she was more reserved. She actually threatened to withhold the honey for my tea if I didn't behave." Kevyn laughed at the memory.
Sherri grimaced. "Sorry. It comes with being Lady of the Keep for so long. Can you answer my questions?"
"Very well, you can catch up on the latest events later, the healer is bringing you food, and I have no clue why you were Chosen but I would dearly love to know why it took them so long. I think that covers everything." Kevyn listed off. "How are you feeling?"
"Better than I have in ages. A little drained magically but restored emotionally. Is there anything I can change into? I feel a little exposed in this."
"A maid packed several gowns for you and what she called your forest clothing. We left them in the cupboard there." Talia gestured to the tall, narrow cupboard in the corner. "I better go tell the Queen you are awake and petition for your entrance to the Collegium."
Sherri was surprised to find herself alone with Kevyn. "Have a seat, you are giving me a crick in my neck."
Kevyn sat on the only chair in the room. "Are you really feeling alright?"
"Yes. I have a fair idea about what I did and there are probably no lasting effects, beyond my stomach being wrapped around my back bone." Sherri favoured him with a warm smile. "I can't imagine what my uncles have put you through but I am very sorry."
"Don't worry about it. Myra has been keeping them in line, mostly."
"Myra?"
"She is a Herald. My year mate actually. She decided I was not going to take this trip alone and when I bundled you up and scampered out of there she stayed behind to relay news back to your uncles. She worked with Favram before and has been bossing all the rest about like it is her right."
Sherry grinned at the image of her uncles being bossed around.
"The funniest part is she is shorter than Talia." Kevyn finished.
"How fitting!" Sherri laughed and curled her feet under her. "If I become a Herald I have to give up my estate, don't I."
"Yes. I am sure your Uncle Avren would be glad to take over for you."
"Gods, no. He has no clue about how to run an estate. Neither do any of the others. None were in line for it since my mother was the eldest. When she died it passed to me. The five years between her death and their leaving was some of the worst we have had. They put the sheep in the wrong fields and ordered the grain harvested too late."
"Surely one of them has some talent with land management."
Sherri drummed her fingers on her knee. "Favram maybe. He used to be the only one who would go help in the fields. But he hasn't the training and I am not turning Sorrows over to untrained hands."
"Lady Sherria, I brought some soup and bread for you and after this you should get some rest." The Healer said as she opened the door. "Herald Kevyn, you should let her have some peace and quiet."
Kevyn took the hint and left. Sherri suffered under the Healer's pokes and prods for just a few more minutes then she was alone with her thoughts.
:And me, of course.: An amused male voice said in her mind and the Companion peered in the doorway at her. :Eat. You need your strength.:
Sherri obediently sipped a spoonful of the weak but nutritious broth. "This is…less than delightful."
:I know. Give yourself a little time before you try anything richer. Your stomach has only had weak soup for months.:
Sherri set the bowl to the side and eyed her new Companion. As always her double vision told her more than she wanted to know. "You were very handsome."
:Thank you.: The Companion dipped his head slightly in recognition of the complement. :You are exquisite now, but you are well aware of that.:
Sherri stood and padded across the cold stone floor to the cupboard and withdrew her 'forest' clothes. They fit her loosely but the feel of the worn leather and soft fabric was a welcome change from the night gown. "How do you feel about a ride?"
:I would like that. But I am not going to answer your questions.:
"You did."
The vision of the man standing where the horse stood looked annoyed, as if he hadn't considered that possibility. He was taller than her with black hair and blue eyes and beautiful beyond all words. The Companion sighed, both as the horse and the human. :What am I getting myself into?: