CHAPTER 24

Favram crossed his arms and glared at Buren.  If looks could kill he would have been guilty of murder.  "Sherri doesn't need you screwing around with her life.  We weren't there for her childhood so it is up to her to decide what role we will play in her life."

"I am not going to let them turn her into a moving target.  I don't care if it is treason."

"Really?  You are willing to throw everything away to make her miserable?  You are more heartless than I am."  Favram said coldly.

"Would you two sit down already?"  Avren snapped.  "You were saying Sherri is a mage?"

"Of a sort, yes.  She has a rare Gift.  I doubt they will let her go anywhere even remotely dangerous.  Maybe they'll even post up north again after she finishes her training.  You know they are keeping their mages as safe as possible."

"So now we have to worry about her getting involved in mage battles on top of everything else."  Ethen exploded.

"Sit down!"  Avren ordered.

Favram ignored Ethen's out burst.  "She sees, feels, and hears other people's thought's.  When you grabbed her you caused the bruises you found and you were what she was scared of.  Sherri is better off with the Heralds.  They understand this…thing…and can train her.  The best we can do is let her go."

Avren bristled at the thought that he had harmed his beloved niece.  "Why can't they teach her with out making her a Herald?"

"Her becoming a Herald is completely up to the Companions and is beyond the control of the Queen and circle."  Ciro pointed out.

At the moment the brothers were spilt three and three, Ciro, Favram, and Degane were for letting the Heralds have Sherri, so long as she was happy and safe, Avren, Buren and Ethen were for taking any route possible to keep Sherri safe.  Ethen was the most adamant about keeping Sherri as the Countess and wanted Favram to refuse the title; he had already taken steps to keep himself from ever being named as the Count.  Avren had done the same for the same reason but was the closest to changing his mind.  Buren was the one least likely to change his mind, he had always be stubborn as a pack mule.

"Let's just leave the fact that she is now a Herald for the time being."  Degane suggested.  "There is nothing we can do about that.  Favram is right about us having to let her decide.  She is an adult, she can make her own decisions.  Why don't we just focus on trying to earn her trust?"

Avren nodded slowly.  "It will be five years before she finishes her training, we can use that time to convince the Queen to let Sherri be posted at Sorrows and become the Countess again."

"Why even tempt fate?"  Buren asked.

"Because it is her fate and her choice."  Degane said as if he was talking to a child.

Favram wondered if that offer for big burly Heralds was still open.

~ * ~

Sherri stretched slowly before opening her eyes.  "Are you awake?"

"Hmmm."  Kevyn stroked her hair blissfully.  "Is it dawn yet?"

"No."  Sherri rose up on one elbow and looked out the window at the dark sky.  "I think we have a few candlemarks yet."

Sherri stroked one hand down his chest.  "You look very tempting laying there."

Kevyn wound a strand of hair around his finger.  "What am I thinking?"

"That you love me."  Sherri answered with out hesitation.  "I love you, too."

"Thanks the Gods for that.  I would hate for it to not be reciprocated."  Kevyn kissed her.

Sherri blushed at his shared thoughts and willingly dropped all her shields so that he could see within her mind.

:Sherri, are you asleep?:  Quin asked suddenly, his voice echoing between the two Chosen.

:No, now go away.:  Sherri answered.

:Not now.:  Kevyn said firmly.

There was a hesitation from Quin before his presence vanished from their minds. 

"Pesky critters."  Sherri laughed.

"Aren't they.  I do believe he was upset to find you here."

"He thinks I am going to get hurt."  Sherri explained, leaving out the slightly over done fathering bit.

"Nick has already warned me that if I hurt you Quin is going to pound me into dust."

"So now my uncles and my Companion after your blood."

"You are worth the danger."  Kevyn assured her.

A knock interrupted them.

"Kev, is Sherri in there with you?"  Myra asked.

"Yes, is something wrong?"  Sherri called back.

The door opened to reveal Myra garbed in a long night gown with a sword in her hand.  "Buren is looking for you."

Sherri cursed and slid to the edge of the bed.  "In the middle of the night?"

"He has decided to kidnap you.  Favram and I checked your room; he is looking in the stable for you."

Sherri and Kevyn quickly pulled on their discarded clothing.

"You know, you two make a really cute couple."  Myra commented with a wave of her sword.

Sherri had just pulled on her boots when her uncle pounded on the door hard enough to loosen the hinges.

"Herald Kevyn, I know you have her in there!"  Buren shouted loud enough to wake the entire wing.

"Am I still worth the danger?"  Sherri asked in a hushed tone.

Kevyn nodded, pulled her close and kissed her quickly.  "Do you think he will go away?"

"Damn it!  Open up!"  Buren finally forced the door open with a solid kick that bent the hinges.  It took a moment for him to take in the tableau of Sherri in Kevyn's arms.

"You bloody little worm!"  He landed a blow on Kevyn's face before either could react.

Kevyn pushed Sherri out of the way and she landed next to Myra who was obviously stunned by the brawl on the floor before her.  Heralds in various night garments crowded in the door way and some of the men tried to pull the combatants apart.

Buren managed to land a heavy blow to Kevyn's abdomen which had him doubled over in pain.

Sherri felt a flash of anger and didn't stop to consider her actions as she wrenched the sword from Myra's hand.  Buren froze when he felt the cold blade on his neck.

"That is quite enough."  Sherri said coldly.

Buren's gaze followed the moon silvered steel to the ruthless expression on his niece's face.  A trickle of blood welled up from his neck.  "Sherri, just put it down.  No one wants to see you get hurt."

"I am at the wrong end of this sword to worry about getting hurt."  Sherri reminded him.  "Step away from Kevyn."

Buren slowly straightened, the blade never wavered.

"That's better.  Now back out the door."  Sherri ordered.  "Don't doubt that I am fully capable of wielding this weapon."

Kerowyn pushed her way to the front of the crowd.  She was armed and ready to knock heads together if that was what it took.  The sight of Sherri holding a sword to Commander Buren's throat was unexpected.

Buren refused to move.

Sherri shrugged, the tip of the blade didn't shift.  Suddenly, in a move no one expected, she withdrew the blade from his throat and cracked the pommel nut against his temple.  He went down like a felled tree.

Kevyn stared up at her with a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Are you alright?"  Sherri handed the sword back to a grinning Myra.

"I'll be just fine, I just wasn't expecting that.  Kero does worse."  Kevyn assured her but let her fuss over him.

The crowd parted to allow Favram in.  He took in his brother's prone form and the battered Kevyn.  "You bested him?"

Kevyn shook his head.

"Sherri did it."  Myra said with a grin.  "He deserved it."

Favram hauled his brother over his shoulder and looked at the cooing pair, he seemed conflicted over something.  "I told him she wasn't a defenceless maid."

The crowd either filed into the room or disbursed, back to their beds as Favram left with Buren.

Sherri ordered some herbs and water brought and ignored everyone but Kevyn.  :If this is how my uncles react, I wonder how Quin is going to react.:

~ * ~

Quin was standing in the corner of the field shaking his head.  On one hand she was his Chosen and her love life was her problem.  But by all the gods, she was his daughter!  He didn't want to think her lying in Kevyn's arms.

:Hey beautiful.:  Abeni trotted up to him with mischief lighting her eyes.  :Did you hear about the scuffle in Kevyn's bedroom?:

Quin laid his ears back against his head.  :You call that a scuffle?:

Abeni tossed her mane and pranced in place.  :Your little girl certainly gave a good showing.:

Quin turned his back and tried to walk away.  Abeni was as shameless as her Chosen, Myra.

:Poor Kevyn though, I think he is ready to check himself in to the Healers.:  Abeni commented as she followed him.

:Give it up already.:  Quin snapped.  :Her love life is her business.:

Abeni tossed her mane.  :Perhaps, but a Herald nearly getting killed is everyone's business.:

:Enough Abeni.:  Nick warned.  :You just have to torment the poor guy, don't you.:

:Thanks.:  Quin said gratefully.

:What Abeni is teasing you about is her uncle found her in Kevyn's room and reacted badly.  She stopped their little fist fight by sticking a sword at her uncle's throat.:

If Quin could have gone any paler he would have.  :Sherri, are you alright?:

:I am just fine.  Kevyn is going to be one massive mass of bruises tomorrow.:  Sherri answered, rather distractedly.

Quin heaved a sigh of relief.  :She just gave me another grey hair.:

:So what is your excuse for all the other grey hairs?:  Abeni teased.  :You should be proud of her, she takes nothing from no one.:

:I am proud of her, but she is going to age me before my time, I have only had her for a few days and she already has managed to make herself the talk of the Collegium.:

:Weren't you?  I mean that thing…with the chicken…:  Nick teased.  :It must run in the family.:

:How would you feel if you had just discovered one of your daughters was in a fight?:

Nick glanced towards the sleeping Companions in the field.  He could see his eldest girl sleeping some distance from her mother.  Kura was an independent, headstrong little girl and he adored her beyond all words.  :I would probably feel just as you do now.  But I hope I will have some friend nearby who is able to help me put it into perspective before I fly off the handle and panic.: