Sherri watched in silence as the men tied her to the tree. She was torn. Should she just leave and leave these men alone, or should she make certain these Herald killers would harm no one ever again? Was her desire to harm them because of their actions against her fellow Heralds, the images she saw, the darkness that filled them, or because she was becoming a killer, like the others?
"Here comes a White Demon." The one on guard warned.
Everyone quickly armed themselves and prepared to attack the unsuspecting Herald.
Sherri quickly used magic to sever her bonds and stood. None of the men noticed her movement. She could here the telltale chime of a Companion's hooves on the packed earth of the road and the jingling of his harness. She hesitated only a second, then the world erupted a wealth of sound and Power.
~ * ~
Kevyn, Myra, Abeni, and Nick were exhausted but no one suggested they stop. Myra had been feeling a growing sense of urgency as time passed.
:Favram and Quin are just ahead.: Nick informed his rider.
Kevyn tightened his grip on his reins.
"Good." Myra said grimly.
Around the bend they found the Companion and lord. Favram was on his knees in the dirt examining something.
"Fav, have you found something?" Myra asked.
Favram jumped and reached for his sword. "Hoof prints and a bit of her dress."
"How far ahead are they?"
"Not far." Favram sheathed his sword. "We can reach them in less than a Candlemark.
~ * ~
Ferris was dozing in his saddle when the explosion sent him flying.
:Chosen! Are you alright?: Ressa, his Companion, asked.
"Just bruised, what on earth was that?" He scrambled back to his feet. He untied the pack mule from the back of Ressa's saddle and swung up on her back.
Just around a corner in one of the small clearings usually used by travelers he found the source of the explosion. Five men were speared on trees like butterflies pinned to a display board. All were Karsites.
"Hello? What's happened here?"
A rustling noise caught his attention and he spun around to see a gaunt, pale Sherri emerge from the shadows cast by the trees. Her eyes looked haunted and Ferris was certain she'd bolt given half a chance. He remembered meeting her just before he left Haven.
"I stopped them." Sherri said simply.
Ferris paled and surveyed the men again. "Why? What happened?"
Sherri stared at her handiwork vacantly. "They were going to kill you."
"Thank you for stopping them then."
:She must be freezing.: Ressa suggested. :Just be certain you don't touch her skin.:
Ferris pulled a blanket out of his saddlebags and offered it to her. "Let's go find someplace we can warm you up."
Sherri gingerly accepted the blanket. "Thank you."
"Why were you with them?"
"They are traitors, I was discovering who their contacts were."
"More traitors?"
"They wanted the war with Karse to continue. They were also Herald killers." Sherri wrapped the blanket around her.
Ressa snorted. :They are better off dead then.:
Ferris led her back to his mule and from there to a waystation. "How about you change into one of my uniforms, I'll go get some firewood."
Sherri obeyed listlessly.
:Sherri! Where in the Havens are you!: Quin's voice demanded in her mind.
Sherri took several deep breaths to keep from breaking down.
:Sherri, I can sense you. Please, just tell me where you are.:
:With Herald Ferris.: Sherri answered finally.
Ferris returned with the firewood just before the others arrived. Kevyn staggered as he dismounted and ran up the steps to the station.
"Oh gods." He whispered into her hair. "Are you all right?"
Sherri nodded and buried her face in his chest. "I am so sorry."
Kevyn stroked her hair and held her close.
:Sherri?: Quin stood with his head in the doorway keeping the others from entering. :What happened?:
"I got the traitors, all of them." She answered.
:That isn't what I meant. Why didn't you answer me before?:
Sherri started to sob. "I am so sorry."
"How about you lie down?" Ferris suggested.
Kevyn carefully guided her backwards until she was sitting down on the bed then sank down next to her. Myra and Favram squeezed past Quin to get to Sherri.
"What happened?" Myra demanded of Ferris.
"I found her not far from here. There were five men speared on trees. She says they were about to ambush me. If she hadn't killed them I know I would be dead. She said she was gathering information on a ring of traitors."
:That would explain why she didn't respond to Quin's calls.: Abeni commented.
Quin ignored the comment.
Sherri straightened and wiped her eyes. "I should have gotten out days ago."
"Why didn't you?" Kevyn asked.
Sherri pulled slightly away. "I wanted to punish them."
"How?" Myra asked.
"I was driving them insane." Sherri said baldly.
This brought complete silence to the small building. Even the Companions outside stilled.
"Why don't you tell us exactly what happened?" Myra suggested as she sat on the other side of Sherri.
"At first I just wanted to get enough information off them to uncover the rest of the circle, but after a few days I started to want to see them punished for what they did to others." Sherri looked at no one.
Favram stroked her hair gently. "I understand."
The Heralds all turned their attention on him.
"When I was in Hardorn I discovered a Captain in Ancar's guard was kidnapping and torturing small children. I hunted him, posed as his friend, and when the time came I killed him in the same manner he used on those children. I won't lie to you. It is one of those things that mark you for eternity."
"You don't understand! I am just like the others!" Sherri protested.
:No, you didn't drive them to a slow death and you certainly didn't do it to innocents. You stopped yourself.: Nick pointed out reasonably. :They didn't. They saw all humanity as worthless. You were willing to risk everything to save a fellow human being.:
"I doubt it. If you mean 'others' like the other True seers, you are not like them. You stopped yourself." Favram pointed out.
:You see, love. You are not like the others.: Kevyn mindspoke as he kissed her temple allowing her to see his relief at finding her alive and safe.
"Let's deal with it later. You look like death warmed over." Myra said. "Let's see about something to eat before we start a major soul searching session."
Sherri let her eyes close. She was fast asleep before a pot of water even had a chance to boil.
Quin finally left the doorway but stayed close.
"Care to fill me in?" Ferris asked as he prepared the meal.
"Maybe later." Kevyn said with authority. "For now she needs to rest."
"We should head back tomorrow morning." Favram suggested. "And you damn well better find someone that can help her."
"We just heard back from the Tayledras. They are sending a mage who may be able to help, if she can't she is able to deactivate gifts." Myra assured him.
Sherri didn't wake up until nearly midnight. She and Kevyn had the bed, Myra, Favram, and Ferris had made pallets on the floor.
Kevyn woke as she tried to slip past him. :Where are you going?:
:Outside.: Sherri answered.
Kevyn touched her face as if he was surprised to see it. She felt the worry and fear he had experience over the past days. She felt his understanding.
:Stop or I am going to start crying again.: Sherri turned her face away.
:I am not letting you out of my sight tonight.: Kevyn warned.
Sherri Saw he thought she shouldn't be alone and was scared she would take off on him. She gave in and settled down with her head on his shoulder. :You need to sleep.:
:So do you.: Kevyn stroked her arm and hesitated when he touched the rope burns on her wrists. :If they weren't already dead, I would kill them.:
:Not a very Herald like thought.:
:No, it isn't.: Kevyn admitted.
:They were working with Inture.: Sherri said.
Kevyn stiffened.
:I wish I had known about the rest of them before, but Inture didn't even know he was working for the Karsites, he thought he was working with Elspeth.:
:You never mentioned that.:
:Of course I didn't. She is my cousin and I knew she wasn't involved. She was going to have enough problems without more rumors.:
:You have all of them this time?:
:Yes, I am almost certain of it. For that alone, this was worth it.: