CHAPTER 27
Selenay did not like Sherri's news.
"I could try Reading him if you wish?" Sherri offered hesitantly. "Honestly, I would rather not, but if you think it is necessary…"
"No. I won't ask that of you." Selenay said firmly. "If he is as deceptive as you say that is probably the last thing we want you to do."
Sherri relaxed. "Do you have any correspondence from him? I may be able to read it and trace it back to him, like I did the letter Lord Inture wrote."
"Would a goblet do?" Prince Daren asked.
"No, not personal enough. When you write a letter or paint a picture you impart yourself into it." Sherri explained. "If he is heavily shielded it may not work at all, but he may not shield when he feels safe."
"Does it matter who it was written to?"
"Not really. I can See anyone who has handled the letter and their thoughts and moods that are foremost in their minds when they handled it. The writer will be the easiest to trace. I could probably see where he lives, what he was thinking, even conversations that he was thinking about or conversations that occur as he writes."
"A perfect spy." Captain Kerowyn commented. "You don't even need to be close to them. I hope you don't mind that I never want to shake your hand."
"I don't mind, actually, I prefer it that way." Sherri admitted. "I am sorry I wasn't very helpful."
"Trust me. You were helpful." Kerowyn assured her. "None of the mages made any progress in seeing through his illusion. Of course, none of them thought he might be using mind magic, not true magic."
"They had no reason to suspect mind magic." Sherri defended them. "Are Herald's taught how to make illusions with mind magic? If they don't know it can be done, why would they think of that as a possible solution?"
"She has a point." Talia agreed.
"My grandmother encountered them once."
"Then why didn't you suggest it?" Sherri asked.
"Point taken." Kerowyn held up her hands. "I am being questioned by the babes."
"Thank you Sherri, I think you have answered all our questions." Selenay said.
"It was my pleasure." Sherri stood. She had been battling exhaustion ever since the ball had finally wound down. Kevyn had gone to the Heralds Revel since she was going to be speaking to Selenay for some time.
She had been a Trainee for just over a month now and she was finally starting to feel at home here. It seemed like both an eternity and instant.
:Are you still awake?: Sherri asked Quin.
:Yes, I was hoping you would come out before you went to bed.:
:I promised I would.: Sherri didn't bother going to her room to change, all those flights of stairs were more than she was willing to face twice.
The sky was a clear expanse of blue spangled with stars. She paused to stare up at them. There weren't as many visible here as there were in the North but there was also more light here with many torches positioned around the Palace so that no one could creep in unnoticed.
Quin entered the light slowly. :You look beautiful. Did you enjoy yourself?:
Sherri stroked the soft hair of his long and beloved face. :I enjoyed dancing with Kevyn of course.:
:But not the intrigue.:
:No. I guess it just isn't in my nature.:
:You are an incredible young woman.: Quin said seriously. :I am very proud of you.:
Sherri smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. :As your Chosen or as your daughter.:
:As both. If I had known about you when I was alive I would have moved the Havens to get to you.:
Sherri hid her face against his neck.
:Are you alright?:
:I am fine.: Sherri assured him and pulled away. Tears glimmered on her lashes.
:Go to bed.:
:I will.: Sherri promised and dried her eyes with the back of her hand. "I am going to go for a bit of a walk before I go to bed."
:Sleep well.: Quin urged and melted back into the night.
Sherri walked slowly, ignoring the faint chill in the air. Soon she had left the light of the torches and entered the eerie silence and shadows of the farthest gardens. The perfume of the flowers wafted through the air. Sherri regained control of herself as she stared up at the stars. It wasn't nearly as peaceful as the forest, but nothing was.
Giving in to temptation she sat on a stone bench and quickly sent her 'self' out of her body and flying towards the north. When she opened her spirit eyes she was looking at the familiar grotto. She was surprised she could reach this far. It felt the same as when she had done it when she lived in the keep.
"Sherri!" Stef was the first to notice her appearance.
"Stef!" Sherri grinned widely and quickly embraced him.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was just seeing if I could reach this far." Sherri explained. "You are looking rather transparent."
"So are you." Van commented behind her. "Are you really here with intent or…"
"Don't worry, I am not wit wandering." Sherri assured him. "My father called me back."
"Your father? Why him? You have never met him." Stef asked.
"He Chose me."
Yfandes was the first to actually understand what she just said. :He returned quickly. Who was he?:
"Herald Kris. Now he is called Quin. I can't stay long. How are you all holding up?"
:So now you are Chosen.: Yfandes nuzzled her chest affectionately.
"So I am." Sherri scratched her ears. "I have one major question, why are you here?"
"We promised." Van said simply. "We promised to return, so we had to. Of course blasting our selves to the ends of creation had some consequences."
"I would say so." Sherri settled under a tree. "You are so weak! Is there anything I can do?"
"It will take time for us to gather enough power to re-establish ourselves. We are rather far from life at the moment." Van commented as they settled around her. "So how long has it been since you were Chosen? Are you a Herald now?"
"Hardly." Sherri grinned. "I was Chosen about a month ago."
:Time travels different for us.: Yfandes explained.
"If I gathered power and sent it to you, would it help?" Sherri offered. "I am sure I could get permission from the Circle to do it. After all, you created the heartstone and you are the best defence we have of the north."
"We would appreciate it, but don't use the heartstone, it will be decades before you could recharge it."
"I doubt it would be decades, we are already laying the paths for leylines across Valdemar, they believe the Vales will be restored inside a decade."
"They are more organized than you think, Ashke." Stef laughed. "The living are not as helpless with out you as you thought."
:Let's just enjoy a nice, well earned, vacation.: Yfandes lipped Van's sleeve.
"Very well, I will leave the living in Sherri's hands." Van stroked Yfandes neck fondly.
"Not even in Whites and already you are putting Valdemar's safety in my hands?" Sherri said in disbelief.
"If you were my student, you would have your Whites by now. We used to award them to those who were ready, not those who were finished with schooling." Van said seriously.
"Thank you for your confidence, but I am not certain I am ready for them."
"Kitten, you earned them when you ignored your own fears and powers to give us information. You are already a Herald, even if you haven't got the uniform."
"Complete with the under developed sense of self preservation." Stef teased to lighten the mood. "And the over developed urge for self sacrifice."
Sherri laughed. "I better go, I'll return soon with more news." She hugged each of them then, with one last study of their beloved faces she returned to her body.
~ * ~
Kevyn was surprised to find Sherri's room empty. :Is she still with the Queen?:
The slumbering Nick grumbled as he woke. :I don't know, I was dreaming. Which is what you should be doing if you want to be of any use to your darling lady tomorrow. I believe she has a picnic planned for you tomorrow.:
:Really?: Kevyn closed the door and strode to his own room. :I think I will head to bed.:
:Good. Now shut up, I want to get back to sleep before one of my little angels wants to play tag.:
Kevyn laughed as he Felt Nick doze off.
~ * ~
Sherri opened her eyes to find herself not sitting on the bench in the garden but instead shoved in a chest with a cramp in every muscle. The rocking of her prison warned her she was on a wagon but she had no idea where she was or how she got there. Her hands were unbound so she worked them free of the folds of her gown to touch the side of the box. A single command echoed in her mind.
Show me.