Sherri jumped at the sound of a horse kicking its stall. She wished she could get a grip on herself. She had been seeing shadows out of the corner of her eye all week. The only place she could even have some semblance of peace was her room. She had been excused from what classes she was supposed to take until she had fully recovered from her 'adventure' so she had spent her time studying and had made quite a dent in the books assigned to her.
At the moment she was in the Palace stables to visit Eagle. Favram had arrived the night before and she knew the horse would expect her down first thing in the morning.
A long, dark head hung over the door eying her mournfully.
"You aren't going to convince me you are being mistreated you old fraud." Sherri scolded and scratched his ears.
Eagle whickered and head butted her hard.
"You misbehave and you don't get the apple." Sherri warned with a tight smile and surveyed the long aisle warily.
Eagle danced in place until she brought out the treat.
A whicker made her jump again. "I am just pathetic, eh, old boy."
Eagle just searched for more treats.
"No more, sorry. I'll see you tomorrow. I want to finish some more studying."
Eagle watched mournfully as she hurried from the stables and trotted across the courtyard and into the Herald's Wing. Finally, her pace slowed as she entered familiar surroundings.
Quin wanted her to speak to Talia about this growing fear but Sherri had no desire to see the Queen's Own's thoughts again. When Sherri had been in the coma-like trance Talia had seen similarities between Sherri's state and a horrid incident that occurred to herself many years earlier. It had been enough to give Sherri nightmares that still plagued her. Kevyn was trying desperately to understand why Sherri was becoming even edgier. Sherri adored him but even his presence was sometimes too much to bear.
In her room Sherri sank into her chair by the window and stared down at the field.
:You should come out for a ride. You haven't ridden all week.: Quin urged.
Sherri stifled a shriek at the sudden intrusion. :Maybe later.:
:You said that yesterday.: Quin's voice was colored with concern.
:And I'll probably say the same thing tomorrow.: Sherri snapped.
Quin got the hint and withdrew his presence from his mind leaving Sherri alone both in her room and in her thoughts. Sherri chose a book at random from the pile on the table next to her and started to read. At least the dry texts were enough to distract her from life for the time being.
~ * ~
Kevyn knocked before he opened the door, hoping Sherri wasn't sleeping.
"Blessed Havens." Sherri exclaimed and the book on her lap fell to the floor.
"Sorry. You didn't come down for supper."
"No, I guess I fell asleep." Sherri stood and replaced the book on the table. "Sorry."
"We finally heard from your teacher. She will arrive in about a candlemark. She just started into Haven."
"Thank the Havens." Sherri sighed. "I hope she is up to this."
"Don't we all." Kevyn gathered her close. "Are you up to meeting her?"
"Of course I am." Sherri said shortly. "I am only cloistered in here as a matter of preference. I prefer not to combust some innocent trainee. Now, please stop hovering. I promise I can handle myself."
Kevyn rubbed his forehead.
Sherri's expression softened. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. I imagine you are as eager for this to be decided as I am."
"That I am." Kevyn admitted.
A loud bang and the distant sound of voices interrupted them. Sherri pushed her door open and ran to the stairs where the commotion seemed to be originating.
"Is something wrong? Is anyone hurt?" She called down the well.
"No one's hurt, yet, just stay up there!" Dirk called up.
Sherri exchanged a confused glance with Kevyn but remained where she was. The discussion taking place below them, somewhere on the third flight of stairs, was muted by the thick stonewalls so only a few words got through.
A familiar chiming like sound echoed up the stairs.
"A Companion?" Sherri glanced at Kevyn. "Why would…actually, I don't want to know."
There was a smattering of laughter on the stairs. With a clatter of hooves the Companion lurched into view.
"Quin, should I ask?" Sherri suppressed a smile.
:You are awake! I have been trying to reach you for a candlemark!: Quin glared up at her accusingly.
"I was sleeping." Sherri said with exasperation. "Just how do you plan to get back outside?"
:Actually…my original plan isn't very feasible anymore.: Quin admitted. :I forgot that last time I was much smaller last time.:
"I'll say." Sherri sat on the top stair and stared at her Companion. She could see the Heralds and Trainees who were trying to get him out of the stairway behind him.
:This was not my most brilliant idea.: Quin grumbled.
"I'll bet." Sherri agreed.
"Do I want to know?"
"He was worried about me."
"Are you ready?" Dirk asked.
Quin nodded. :I am very glad he doesn't know this is me. He already knows almost every other stupid stunt I have done.:
:I should tell him.: Sherri teased as she stood out of the way. The Heralds piled blankets and pillows on the landing in case Quin fell backwards.
With a scramble Quin reached the final landing.
"I am not certain how we are going to get him out." Dirk said from the bottom of the stairs.
"We'll find something." Sherri assured him. "I wonder if you will fit through my doorway."
She pushed open the door and stepped inside. Quin, still looking very sheepish, stepped carefully through.
:You have a nice room.:
"I am glad you approve." Sherri and some of the other Heralds started pushing all the furniture against the walls.
The Heralds kept glancing at Quin and shaking their heads. A few chuckled as their Companions put their two bits in.
:Perhaps we could stop in the library on the way out, I have missed being able to read.:
"Don't even think of it, old man." Sherri warned.
"What does he want to do now? Take a look from the top of the tower?" Dirk asked.
"No, he wants to visit the library." Sherri explained.
"You certainly know how to keep us on our toes." Dirk chuckled.
Quin steadfastly ignored everyone and admired the view from the window.
The sound of some one striding down the hall caught everyone's attention.
"Sherri?" Talia called as she knocked on the partially ajar door.
"Come in." Sherri called back, unable to reach the door.
It took Talia several minutes to take in the odd scene. "Why is your Companion in your room?"
"He was concerned when I didn't answer him. He assumed the worst and came running to the rescue." Sherri answered.
"The Hawkbrother Mage has arrived. I assumed you wanted to meet her immediately."
"I do." Sherri ducked under Quin and made her way to the door. "Don't let him on the furniture."
:That is a low blow, daughter.: Quin said indignantly.
Sherri ignored him and escaped into the hall.
"I am wondering who cursed you to live in interesting times." Talia commented.
"I don't know, but when I find out they are going to spend the rest of their lives as a squirrel."
Talia laughed. Obvious the sheer idiocy of a Companion climbing the stairs and most likely spending the night in her room and given Sherri something else to dwell on besides the five men she killed, a topic that was swiftly becoming an obsession for Sherri.
Outside the twilight shrouded the courtyard. Herald Teren, Darkwind, and Elspeth were waiting for her.
Sherri used her mage sight to look beyond the gate and she saw the lone figure on the dyheli approaching.
They remained silent until the mage stopped before them and dismounted.
"I did not expect so many to welcome me." The dark figure commented in heavily accented Valdemaran.
"Welcome to Valdemar." Elspeth started to greet her.
The Tayledras laughed. "There is no need to act formal. I am most certainly not an envoy. Shall we go inside and become acquainted?"
Elspeth started to protest but Darkwind nodded. "Better than standing out here feeding the mosquitoes."
Sherri strained to make out the features of her new teacher. She had expected some one old, maybe stodgy. This Hawkbrother mage sounded young and flexible.
:Why don't you invite them up.:
"Only if you want to explain your presence."
"I beg you pardon?" The mage turned on her.
Sherri grimaced. "My Companion, not you."
"Oh." The mage responded, still confused.
Sherri blushed and hurried ahead. She wished she remembered to keep her mouth shut. Inside they all settled in a well-lit classroom giving Sherri a chance to finally see her new teacher. She was in her early twenties with ice white hair sheered off at the shoulder. A mottled raven sat on her wrist calmly watching everything.
"I am Icestone k'Vala." The mage said as she removed her cloak revealing scout gear that resembled leaves stitched together. "Which of you is Sher'ria?"
"I am." Sherri said.
Icestone studied her. "I have never met a powerful True Seer before. You are not what I expected."
"I hope you have an idea for training her." Teren said bluntly as he sat on one of the desks.
"Oh, I do. Odd Gifts is my specialty." Icestone assured him. "I am a Fire mage myself."
"I heard of you." Darkwind said suddenly. "You took control of a fire and put it out on your own."
"Guilty. That is how I got my name. After I was through the ground was frozen."
"You pulled the energy out of the plants and ground that fueled the fire, didn't you." Sherri ventured
Icestone nodded. "I thought it would be easier than trying to make the fire obey me."
"What is a fire mage?" Talia asked. "Is it like a Fire starter?"
"It is a mage who is a Fire starter." Icestone explained. "It is very rare for both gifts to manifest together and have both Gifts be powerful."
"What will you need?" Teren asked, trying to steer the conversation back to trying Sherri.
"A place to work and access to your heartstone." Icestone responded with out hesitation. "And, of course, a room for Del and I."
The raven squawked.
"That can be easily arranged." Teren assured her.
"Is there any other mage whose training I could take over? It is easier to teach two than it is to teach one."
"You could train Kevyn. But he doesn't have any True Sight." Darkwind offered. "He and Sherri are a pairing."
Sherri blushed.
"It isn't necessary for him to have True sight. I am also going to teach her magic. If that is alright?" Icestone cocked her head to the side, Del, the raven, mimicked the movement.
"That is alright." Darkwind assured her.
"More than alright." Elspeth agreed. "It will give us some more time to work on getting our Mage Collegium up and going."
"Excellent. How about Sher'ria shows me to my room and you lot can go seek your beds."
"Where are you putting her?" Sheri asked. "I was going to suggest the Ekele."
Elspeth nodded. "That was our plan."
"That will do." Icestone gathered her cloak and pack. "Lead the way, Sher'ria."
"Please, call me Sherri." She said as she led the way out into the hall then outside.
"Very well, Sherri." Icestone complied. "Which is your Companion?"
Sherri looked up at her window. A gleaming white head could easily be seen. "That one up there."
Icestone blinked as she stared at Quin. "Very interesting."
"I'll say."
:What is she like?: Quin prodded.
"If you hadn't gotten yourself stuck up there you could have met her." Sherri answered.
:No respect for you father.: Quin teased.
:When you look like my father, then I will give you the respect you deserve.:
:I which translates into none I take it?:
:You are the one who is in my room at the moment.:
"Are they really as intelligent as they say? My many times great grandfather was a Herald."
"Vanyel, right?"
"How did you guess?" Icestone asked.
"That makes us cousins."
"Really?"
"For someone who didn't chase women, he certainly founded a dynasty." Sherri commented.