CHAPTER 20

Myra hoped Sherri was awake as she bound up the stairs to her room.  She was not looking forward to talking to the Healers this morning but she knew if she delayed she would find more excuses not to see them.

After a perfunctory knock on the door she opened it and stuck her head in.  "Sherri?"

Sherri was sitting in one of her new chairs with her feet tucked under her staring out the window.  She wore the cream and brown outfit she had worn the day before, now freshly laundered, and had her hair tamed into a coronet around her head.  "Are you ready?"  Sherri asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be."  Myra sighed and closed the door.  She could see the Companions Sherri had been staring at.  Two foals were playing a game of tag under the watchful eye of their parents.  Shadows made by the rising sun stretched across the field and red and gold stained the coats of the Companions.  "They are beautiful, aren't they?"

"I was just wishing I could paint them."  Sherri said wistfully. 

"I don't know if anyone has ever tried to."

"Stef did, once.  He said it turned out like a bunch of white blobs on green."

"Stef?  Who is that?  A suitor you left behind?"  Myra sank into the chair next to Sherri.

"Stef is Bard Stefen, he is Herald Vanyel's lifebonded.  He, Vanyel and Yfandes haunt Sorrows."

"You are just full of surprises."  Myra sat back and eyed her new friend speculatively.  "Tell me about them."

"Yfandes is Van's Companion.  She still calls him a peacock even thought he hasn't changed his clothes in centuries."  Sherri smiled fondly at the memories.  "She says that the next time they decide to haunt a forest for centuries she gets to bring someone too.  She was the one who taught me to ride.  I was all flopping elbows and loose knees until she took me in hand.  Stef would have died of shock the first time we met if he wasn't already dead.  I was hanging off a branch about to drop to the ground when I saw this handsome young man watching me.  I asked him if he could help me down and he nearly fainted.  The next day he brought Van and Yfandes to meet me."

"That sounds very romantic.  How old were you?"

"Five I think." 

A rapping on the door interrupted their conversation.

"Come in."  Sherri called.  It didn't sound like Kevyn's knock.

Favram opened the door then paused when he saw Myra sitting in the chair across from Sherri.  "I just wanted to check on you."

Sherri wasn't certain whether she was pleased or not that he had come looking for her.  "I am still going to be a Herald."

"I know that.  I was just shocked yesterday."  Favram looked around for a chair that could support his weight and finally hauled a sturdy bench away from the wall that Sherri had chosen for extra shelf space until she could find some bookcases.  "I knew a lot of Heralds who lost their lives in the War.  You can hardly blame me for having nightmares about you in the same situations."

Myra was uncertain if she should stay.  :I think you should.:  Abeni, her Companion, said in her mind.  :Sherri could use the support.:

:I also want to talk to Fav.:  Myra reminded her.

Sherri was still tense.  "I am sorry if you don't want Sorrows, but I am not passing it off to any of the others."

Favram smiled crookedly.  "I know.  I remember those five years better than you do.  That war may have been the best thing for Sorrows."

Sherri smiled slightly.

"I am proud of you."  Favram blurted out.

Sherri blushed and looked away quickly as tears gathered in her eyes.  She didn't trust herself to say anything around the lump in her throat.

"You are self sufficient, brave, honourable, independent, intelligent, and so much more.  I couldn't care less if you can't sew a stitch or if all your cooking is burned."  Favram barrelled on.

Sherri bolted out of her chair and through her arms around Favram's neck.  "Thank you."

Favram returned the embrace.

Myra smiled at the pair.  :You know, the only resemblance between them is the height.  He is all golden and, well, big.  She is dark, delicate, and not so big.:

:She must resemble her father.:

Sherri collected herself and wiped away her tears.  Even Favram's eyes were glistening.

"So, when is that pretty boy Herald of yours going to join the family?  He seems almost decent, even if he does need his nose broken.  He actually threatened to toss me down the stairs if I hurt you."

Sherri laughed.  "Does it matter?"

"Just don't surprise us with a babe with no father in sight.  I doubt Avren's poor heart could take it twice.  I better get going, don't worry, I won't tell the others were your room is."

Myra's lips quirked in a smile.  "Favram, could I speak with you?"

"Sure."  Favram looked slightly confused.

Myra led him into the hall and closed the door after him.  "How are the rest taking the news today?"

"Badly.  As if they could take it any other way.  They are refusing to allow Sherri to abdicate."

Myra sighed, she had expected that.  "I hope you plan on beating it through their thick skulls that Sherri wants this."

"It may be literally."  Favram said with a sigh and a clenched fist.

"Remember that brawl in Hardorn a few months ago?  You tossed those little wits a good ten feet with a single blow.  Do that if need be.  Sherri needs all the support she can get.  Everyone else who has had her gift went mad."

"Bloody hell."  Favram cursed.  "Any idea what drove them mad?"

"Too much knowledge is my bet.  I spent the night going through the palace library, not in the books about Gifts, Kev already searched those, but in a collection of old stories I found references to True Seers who went mad, one killed twenty three people and was determined to kill every other person he could find because he saw too much of the dark side of humanity.  Another saw the same darkness and retaliated by trying to force humans to have no violent thoughts.  She drove an entire village insane.  There were others and all ended the same, the darkness in others made their minds snapped and they either killed themselves or massacred others trying to purge the darkness.  The common thread was they saw too much darkness when they touched other people."

Favram was pale as a ghost.

"To make it worse, Sherri is also an adept.  If she snapped we could be looking at a crater in the centre of Valdemar where Haven used to be.  I trust you understand why we are so concerned about her mental stability." 

"Oh Gods.  Poor Sherri.  I'll make certain they get it through their thick heads that Sherri doesn't need their protection or foolish plans."

Myra smiled and relaxed.  "I am glad you understand.  If you need any help getting it through I am certain we can find a few great hulking Heralds to help out.  Maybe Dirk."

Favram had worked with Dirk before, he may be a quiet man, but he was deadly as a viper when he chose to be.  "That may be a plan, so long as we avoid killing them."

~ * ~

It was still shadowed as Myra and Sherri crossed the courtyard to the Healers.  Dawn gave everything a brilliant pink hue.  Even the normally golden stone of the palace looked pink in this light.

A Healer rushed out to see them.  "Countess Sherria, I was hoping you would return."

"Actually, this visit isn't for me, it is for Herald Myra.  Can we speak to a female Healer?"  Sherri said with authority.

"We still want to check you over but I can see no reason that Jenna can't check you both over."  The Healer led them inside and left them in an examining room.  Myra started to pace back and forth immediately, fidgeting with her cuffs and hems.  Sherri sat in one of the available chairs and waited just as impatiently.

Finally the door opened and a woman dressed in the green robes of her calling entered.  "What can I help you with?"

Myra flashed a pleading look at Sherri.

"Herald Myra is pregnant and is concerned about the birth."

The Healer smiled reassuring at Myra.  "Why don't you have a seat and I'll have a look.  It is hard to examine you or the baby when you are pacing like that."

Myra sat down and fidgeted as she was examined.

"You are both very healthy, so why don't you tell me what is bothering you?"  The Healer sat next to Myra.  Sherri could feel the aura of calm the healer was projecting.

Sherri listened with half an ear to Myra's worries.  She had heard most of them before from other mothers to be she had spoken to.

Finally Myra had run out of questions and was much more relaxed.

"Now for you, my lady."  The Healer turned to face her.

"Just don't touch me."  Sherri stipulated.

The Healer was surprised at the request but complied.  "Other than some malnutrition you are in good health.  I recommend you eat a lot of vegetables and fruits for the time being and take it easy until you recover completely."  The Healer finally pronounced.

Sherri was expecting that and nodded.  "I will.  We best get going if we are going to make it to breakfast."

Myra was much more relaxed as they left the large building.  "Thank you for talking me into it."

"I did nothing."

Myra snorted.  "So, how are you really feeling today?"

"Rather refreshed and ready to take on the day.  But first I want to gorge on some of that wonderful food I sampled last night."

"You are in for a treat.  Mero is a master of the culinary arts.  Just as good as your Cook.  Well, her pies are better."  Myra conceded.  "I would walk through fire for one of her nut pies."

Sherri thought longing of the treats Cook regularly produced.  "You have never had her fresh fruit tarts or nothing would have gotten you away from Sorrows."

"Your uncles were out of favour so there were only three pies in the massive meal she prepared for our journey."

"She sent over a half dozen pies back with Kevyn last winter.  I think she approved of him."  Sherri smiled at the memory of their stolen kiss.  It was rather sad that was her first, real kiss and she was eighteen.  It was even odder to think she had propositioned him the night before.  "You traveled here with my uncles.  Do you know what their plans are?"

"Well, they mentioned they wanted to introduce you at court and help you find a nice young man.  At least Favram seems to have come to his senses and realized you are now ours and that if you choose Kevyn there is nothing he can do."

"He was always more of a big brother than an uncle."  Sherri admitted.  "At least when we were younger he was.  Did you know he was fourteen when he ran off to war?"

"Some how that doesn't really surprise me."  Myra said after considering it for a moment.  "He is a darling.  When we were riding back he was always the one who offered to help me into the saddle and ordered a hot bath for me when we stopped.  It is rare to find looks and personality in one beautiful package."

Sherri chuckled.  "He isn't the father is he?"

"Blessings, no!  The father is a Herald I ran into while I was delivering a message in the south."  Myra assured her.  "What can I say?  I like men.  Tall, short, lean, muscled, dark, light, handsome, homely, so long as they have the right personality and look out on life.  Would it bother you if I pursued Favram?"

Sherri shook her head.  "Just remember, he is now the new Count."

"Oh, can you imagine him answering to 'my lord'?"  Myra giggled.  Favram never wore anything besides homespun brown clothing that looked more appropriate for a holderkin male. 

Sherri grinned widely.  "'Ye ain't a me lord!  Ye's a fake.  Just ye wait till the Heralds get ye!'"  Sherri did a perfect imitation of a northern farmer with a mock stern expression.

Myra tried to still her giggles as they were drawing stares from the gardeners and servants going about their business.  "Or Favram trying to remember he is a 'my lord' now!  I bet you it will be at least two years before he realises he is the 'my lord' they are addressing."

"I know he will wonder who 'Lord Favram' is when they start addressing him as that."  Sherri released a giggle ignoring the stares and murmurs.

 Both women felt the stress and concern that had plagued them fall away.  Myra's constant worries about her baby, the uncertainty of what would happen to her and the child, and the guilt for not being able to perform her duties.  Sherri's grief for her friends, her concerns for her people, the stress of seeing her uncles all at once, and the added weight of being in a new place surrounded by strangers and strange objects.

"Lady's Blessings, I am so glad you were Chosen."  Myra finally gasped out.

Sherri draped an arm around the smaller woman's shoulders.  "So am I."

:I am glad to hear that.:  Quin added.

"You really shouldn't eavesdrop."  Sherri scolded.

"Quin?"  Myra guessed.  "Don't worry, you will get the hang of it.  Now, let's feed ourselves and find you some clothes that fit."