CHAPTER 21

Grey was not her colour.  She looked like a lowering storm cloud.  The mirror reflected a young woman dressed in silvery grey with her ebony black hair streaked with only a few strands of white hair twined in a coronet about her head, large dark blue eyes lined with sooty black lashes, soft pink lips, pale, and a heart shaped face. 

:You should stop preening.:  Quin twitted her.

:I would hardly call this preening.  I am almost completely colourless.  Just imagine how I will look in Whites!:  Sherri countered and scowled at her reflection.  :At least I will have some colours to wear when my clothing arrives.:

:You should really talk to you uncles again.  I mean all of them, not just Favram.  They had the best intentions when they decided to introduce you at court.:  Quin urged.

Sherri glanced toward the window that over looked the field.  :I know they did.  But so far look what their 'good intentions' have brought me.  I nearly died.  I can't even enter a strange room without worrying about the door closing behind me and being trapped.:

Quin sent her a wave of concern, love, and understanding.  :Talk to Talia.  She could help you.:

Sherri suppressed a shudder at the images Talia's name called to mind.  Rape.  Torture.  Loss.  All with the acid etched pain only an empath could impart.  :I am sorry but I don't feel comfortable talking to her.:

:Why don't you come out a ride.  We could work on managing your gift.:  Quin suggested.

Sherri tugged uncomfortably on the new uniform.  :I suppose I could.  I am still supposed to be recuperating.:

She grabbed a tattered blanket off a bench and head out her door.

And straight into Kevyn who had his hand raised to knock.

"Sorry."  Sherri stepped back and smiled warmly up at him.  "You know, you are harder than a brick wall."

Kevyn laughed.  The sound thrilled along her nerves.  "I was coming to see if you would like to join me for a picnic outside the city.  I know you are supposed to catch up on your rest but I figured you needed to escape the walls."

"That would be wonderful." 

:That would be the best thing for you right now.:  Quin agreed.  Sherri sensed a conflict in the sending and wished she knew what big secret he was trying so hard not to think about.

"Well, I have a blanket, what else do we need?"  Sherri asked.

"I have everything ready and packed at the Stables.  I was hoping you would agree."  Kevyn offered her his arm.  "You are looking very drawn.  Are you alright?"

"This is just harder than I thought."  Sherri admitted.  "It has only been two days since I returned and already everything feels like it is about to overwhelm me.  Honestly, if not for you and Myra I would have left already."

"We worry about you.  I won't deny it since you would know as soon as I touched you.  Myra and I have decided that between the two of us we should be able to help keep you centred while you settle in."

"I am very grateful to both of you."  Sherri assured him.  "There are just so many people here and they keep echoing at me from everything.  I tried to fortify my shields but I am still too drained."

Kevyn said nothing, he placed his own shields around her and strengthened them as much as he dared.  Sherri relaxed minutely.

"Have you finished answering all of Teren's questions yet?"

Sherri grimaced at the memory of the inquisition.  "He thinks that other than mage training I may be able to get my Whites rather quickly.  I already have the most of the law, diplomacy, history, reading, maths, writing, and others that they normally teach trainees.  I never thought that all of Van's and Yfandes' teachings would come in so handy.  He wants me to take jurisprudence, languages, and weapons."

"What chores do you have?  I remember I was always stuck with mop duty."

"Mopping and kitchen."

"I remember kitchen quite fondly.  Better than dishwashing or cleaning the bathing rooms."

Their conversation hovered around her entering the Collegium until they were mounted on their Companions and riding out the gates.  Sherri fell silent and became more withdrawn as they rode into the more cramped quarters of the city and didn't relax until the last building was behind them.

"Are you feeling better?"  Kevyn asked.

Sherri nodded.  "I am not used to so many people in one place.  How can they live all bunched up like that?"

"They would probably find the vastness of the Sorrows perplexing if they were faced with it, but I agree.  Out of curiosity, how are the children you took in?"

"My merry band of thieves?"  Sherri smiled.  "Hanna, Daya's apprentice, was snapped up by a Healer last year and is here in Haven.  I should probably look her up.  Jyra and Gen are both very promising seamstresses and weavers, Gen prefers to make tapestries.  Kori, the one who wants to become a Herald, was adopted by a childless farm family not long after you left after your visit.  The other boys still live at Sorrows, they were the ones rebuilding the stair case when you visited last winter."

"They are about sixteen or so, aren't they?"

"About that.  Kori is only thirteen and a rather tiny thirteen at that.  The girls are between fourteen and sixteen."

 "Did you take in more?"

"Yes, last fall I had sixteen new thieves.  My people actually welcome them now.  Of course those that tried to lie and say they would never steal from me were refused."

"So your gift is handy for some things."  Kevyn turned Nick down what looked like a goat track.  "The spot is this way."

The picnic spot he chose was sheltered under large, ancient trees next to a small, stream fed pond next to a Herald Waystation.

"This place is so peaceful."  Sherri commented.

"It is rarely used since it is so close to Haven.  Usually only Heralds desperate to escape for a day or two use it."  Kevyn swung to the ground and detached his saddlebags from the back of his saddle.  Sherri quickly stripped the tack from both Companions as Kevyn set out their cold meal. 

:Enjoy yourself.:  Quin said as he and Nick wandered to the pond for a drink.

"I will."  Sherri assured him.

"Quin?"  Kevyn asked.

"Of course."  Sherri took a seat on the blanket next to him.  "This looks wonderful."

"Help yourself."  Kevyn poured each of them a mug of juice from a bladder.

"Do you come here very often?"  Sherri asked as she sipped the still cool liquid.

"Not really.  Nick suggested it."

"Then he has excellent taste."  Sherri said loud enough for the Companions to hear.

:Thank you.  I am glad you approve.:  Dominick raised his head and winked at her.  Sherri jumped at the unexpected voice and smiled.

"He Spoke to me."  Sherri grinned at Kevyn.

Kevyn was just as surprised as she was.

:I may as well, you echo to her if you are touching and you seem to enjoy touching each other a great deal.:  Nick explained to Kevyn as he returned to grazing.  :The more people she has to rely on, that she knows trust her completely, the less likely she is going to turn everyone in Valdemar into mindless zombies.:

:I doubt she would even consider it.  I think she would be more likely to just flee her body with no intent to return if things became more than she can handle.:  Kevyn said with conviction.

:I hope you are right little brother.  She doesn't deserve to be saddled with this gift.  No one does but her more so.:

Kevyn agreed.

"Would you pass me the fruit?"  Sherri asked, interrupting their conversation.

"Of course."  Kevyn snagged the small bag of assorted dried fruit and passed it to her.

"I want to thank you for the extra shields."  Sherri said unexpectedly.

"It was my pleasure.  Would you like me to try and strengthen them further?"

"No, it isn't necessary."  Sherri assured him.  "It requires a lot of power for me to leave my body and three months used up all my reserves.  I have been trying to keep them up but I just don't have enough power yet."

"Why don't you tap into the Heartstone?  As a Herald, you have the right to."

Sherri blushed, she should have thought of that.  "Would they mind?"

"I doubt it.  You are a trained Adept and you would only take enough to restore your power reserves, it wouldn't deplete the Stone much."

"I will ask when we get back."

"Have your uncles been bothering you?"

"No.  I think Myra had a long heart to heart with them that involved some inventive threats involving a castrating knife."

Kevyn winced but laughed.  "She got that from one of the Captain's men.  He used it to threaten the new recruits."

"I assume it was effective.  Favram visited twice now but the others all keep their distance."

"Does it bother you?"

"There was a time when I wished I could see them again but now they are almost strangers.  It sounds heartless, but I wish they weren't here."

"It is understandable."  Kevyn assured her.

Sherri leaned back against the trunk of the tree and popped a raisin into her mouth.  She hadn't felt this much at peace since before Van, Stef, and Yfandes went to the plains.  "What are the Tayledras doing about the ley lines now?"

"They are organizing small parties of Adepts and scouts and sending them out to guide the power into the channels they want.  This will allow them to decide where it goes and who had access to it."  Kevyn explained.  "I think it is a good idea, but my major worry is what about years from now?  Alliances change and we could end up with a great deal of power in the hands of our enemies."

"Their paths can be changed.  I have seen Van do it many times.  Besides, this alliance is backed by the gods, is it not?"

"True."

Sherri's expression darkened as she finally worked up the courage to voice the questions that had been hovering at the edges of her mind.  "Kevyn, why are you so willing to touch me when you know what I can See?"

"I trust you."  Kevyn answered simply.  "If it bothers you I will stop."

"No, it isn't that.  It is just…  I expected everyone to shy away from me when they discovered my abilities."

"I won't lie, some will.  Some have secrets they can't bear to share.  Others don't want to inflict their memories and nightmares on you.  Will it disturb you?"

"No, actually I am rather relieved.  Touching you is pleasant.  You have a very pleasant mind."  Sherri blushed.

"What about touching others?"

"Well, it is hard to put into words.  Others are like a whirlwind of chaos.  When I touch them I feel like I am being pulled into them and I start to lose myself if I touch them for too long.  With you it only feels like we are…connecting is the best word I suppose.  I don't lose track of myself." 

"And with your Companion?"

Sherri smiled at Quin who was watching them intently from the far side of the pond.  The horse vision looked calm and unperturbed but the human she could see was worried and thoughtful.  "With him it is the same.  Like we are connecting."

"Maybe it has something to do with me being a Herald and Quin being a Companion."

"Maybe.  I haven't touched any other Heralds or Companions."  Sherri admitted.  "I don't want to pry.  Companions are famous for their secrets after all."

:I am sure you will know all soon enough.:  Dominick commented to both of them wryly. 

"I won't tell anyone what I know."  Sherri promised.  "I haven't told anyone Kevyn still has the old stuffed horse his brother gave him when he was a toddler."

"You know that!"  Kevyn was torn between incredulity and laughing.  Laughing won.

"Care to hear what else I know?"  Sherri challenged.  "You write with your right hand but fight better with your left.  You hate wearing Whites outside of Valdemar.  Not that I can blame you, they are rather conspicuous but you do look very handsome in them.  Your brothers call you a peacock because you like you wear bright colours.  You ran away to Haven when you were eleven because you hoped to be Chosen but you weren't until you were thirteen when Nick appeared after you were thrown from your horse during a hunt.  Your family was convinced you had been killed until in an accident until a messenger arrived with the good news."

"You should have been a fortune teller."  Kevyn laughed.

:I remember, you looked so pathetic sitting in that pile of leaves staring after your horse.:  Nick stomped his hooves in amusement.

Sherri, emboldened but his reaction leaned across the lunch spread between them and caressed his cheek before she kissed his lips somewhat inexpertly.

Quin stiffened and scowled.

:Relax.  He would never harm her.:  Nick assured him.  :I think they make a great pair.  The are both adepts, both Heralds, both very much in love even though they haven't admitted it yet.:

Quin grumbled and turned away from the couple.  :He hurts her and I will trample him into dust.:

:I believe he has already heard that particular threat from Favram.:  Nick commented wryly.  :She certainly inspires the protective instincts in the men around her.:

Quin didn't answer.

:Or maybe it is just her kin that react like that.: