CHAPTER 33
Sherri listened to the bellows like breathing of her Companion as she stared up at her ceiling. Kevyn was breathing softly next to her with his arms holding her close. She could See his dream and was glad at least one of them was resting easy.
Sherri shifted so she was on her side with her head pillowed on Kevyn's shoulder. Once again she was struck at the absurd situation she was in. She was sleeping with her lover with her father standing next to the bed snoring.
:I don't envy you.: Nick commented to her suddenly.
:I doubt anyone would.: Sherri answered.
:I still can't believe he did it.: Nick gave a mental chuckle. :Any plans for getting him out?:
:One that involves a really big hole in the wall and a leap of faith.:
:Quin, the flying Companion! Now one of my angels wants to climb the stairs. You father is a very poor role model.:
:I am sure he meant well. But when we get out of here, he is grounded!:
Nick laughed. :If you can't sleep, why don't you go visit Vanyel and the others. I am sure you could use the break.:
:If you tell them that it was your idea, certainly. I will try to return soon.:
:Take all the time you need.:
Sherri sighed and relaxed against given then sent herself out into the night. In the blink of an eye she was standing in the forest wearing only a light night gown.
:Back again?: Yfandes greeted her.
"It's been a week."
"Really? It feels like you just left." Stef appeared. "How are you doing?"
"Well enough. I am wound tighter than a string on your gittern. I jump at everything."
"Are you here for any particular reason?" Stef pressed.
"No. I am just trying to find some peace and quiet. My father is in my room."
"He is a Companion, is he not?"
"Yes he is. And I live on the fourth floor."
Stef laughed. "I think I am inspired for a new song."
"I can't wait to hear it." Sherri said honestly.
"Sherri, back so soon?" Van haled her.
"It's been a week." Sherri repeated. "I met another of you many-greats grand children. You produce a lot of mages."
"Really? Is this one as bad as Firesong?" Van asked with a grin.
"I don't think so. She is a Firemage and an adept. She is also my teacher."
:More powerful, beautiful children than you can shake a stick at.: Yfandes teased. :Since you are here, you could favor us with a few songs.:
Sherri grinned and settled on her familiar stone. It was after dawn when she finally opened her eyes back in Haven to find Kevyn, Quin, and Icestone staring down at her.
"It was all Nick's idea." Sherri swore and bit back a yawn.
"I know. He mentioned it." Kevyn said dryly.
"We got kind of involved in a little concert." Sherri explained.
"With who?" Icestone asked.
"Herald Vanyel and Bard Stefen. Yfandes suggested it." Sherri sat up. "I haven't been able to sleep lately."
Quin eyed her but didn't comment.
"Oh, Stef is going to immortalize you in song."
Quin released what sounded very much like a human groan.
"We should get started." Icestone said in a business like tone. "I'll meet you two out at the ekele after you eat. Please refrain from dropping off like that again."
"Of course." Sherri assured her and slipped out of bed.
"Did you get any sleep?" Kevyn asked, noting the bags under her eyes.
"No. But that is to be expected." Sherri ducked under Quin to the wardrobe. "With the pair of you snoring all night, who could sleep."
:I do not snore.:
"Since when have I snored?" They protested in unison.
Sherri tossed a grin at them. "I am teasing you two. Do you have any idea on how to get you out yet?"
Quin flipped his ears back. He did not want to be reminded about his less than brilliant rescue.
"I was thinking, if we could remove some of the stones we could use the same spell the gryphons use on their baskets to make you light and float you to the ground." Sherri said as she changed.
:That could work.: Quin offered hesitantly.
"Are you scared of heights?" Kevyn asked.
:No, at least I don't think so. Flying however…:
Sherri laughed. "We'll bring some food up for you after breakfast."
:Thank you.:
Just over a candlemark later Sherri and Kevyn finally made it to the ekele. Icestone was lounging in the hot pool with her raven sitting on a branch just above her head. "Well, strip down and get in." She greeted them. "I want to pick your brains to discover what you know before we start flinging levin bolts at each other."
Kevyn was more uncomfortable with stripping down and getting in the water than Sherri. She let Kevyn begin outlining his training and enjoyed the warmth. It was quiet in here, more than just lack of sound, it was a lack of everything that she could sense.
"Are we that boring?" Icestone asked.
"No." Sherri didn't open her eyes. "It is beautifully quiet in here."
"I am glad you think so. I spent most of the night getting rid of every trace so you could be comfortable. Now, when did you start your training? When you were Chosen?"
"No. When I was thirteen. Van decided that it was unwise to have an Adept with no training running around and started training me."
"Van? Is that the Herald Vanyel you were 'visiting'? I thought Valdemar had no mages until Elspeth was trained and returned."
"Herald Vanyel is the same Herald Vanyel Ashkevron that sired our ancestors. He is dead, he haunts the forest I grew up in." Sherri chuckled. "Kind of odd, Kevyn is an Ashkevron, but we are the direct descendants."
"Odd, definitely. What did our ancestor teach you?"
Sherri started by outlining her first lessons and finished with what they had been studying when the Storms started.
"So you are trained, mostly you have personal exploration to do before you are a full Adept. But you, Herald Kevyn, are practically a raw beginner. This is a good mix."
Kevyn bristled a bit at being called a raw beginner.
"Actually, most of a Herald's training in mind magic is transferable to true magic." Sherri interjected.
"You never mentioned mind magic, what are you Gifts?"
"Mindspeech and Farsight." Kevyn answered.
"Mindspeech, a touch of empathy, and Farsight as well."
Icestone nodded. "Since Sherri's Gift is priority, we shall start with her today."
~ * ~
Quin hung his head out the window and stared way down at the ground. This was as dumb as…he could think of several instances where he had been dumber. Like when he had arrogantly ignored Talia's misgivings while riding to his death and Talia's near death. Rather ironic that he had made it back to Haven before her. There was also the time he opened his big mouth and told his treacherous uncle of Dirk's drinking, definitely not a bright point. Then there was the more run of the mill stupidity a human was bound to stumble upon.
Like having a daughter with a suicidal woman. Not that he regretted Sherri but it was not the smartest thing he had ever done.
:What are you doing up there?: A young Companion asked from below him. :Can I come up?:
:No. I wouldn't recommend it little one.: Quin answered.
:Why not?:
:You might get stuck up here?:
:Jenna, You wouldn't want to get stuck up there, would you?: The foal's mother asked reasonably.
:I guess not. Can I do it when I'm older?:
:If you still want to.: The mother looked up at Quin who withdrew his head.
He carefully placed his feet so that he didn't ruin Sherri's rugs. This certainly ranked up there with believing Skif's sob story about growing up on the street, while the scamp took the opportunity to clean his pockets. And the 'chicken incident'. He was still being teased about that.
How was he supposed to no it was supposed to be emptied then stuffed? He had never enjoyed hunting or cooking so he had never had a chance to learn.
A knock on the door made him freeze. Sherri had refused to allow servants in her room, so it wasn't a servant, and he certainly didn't want to face any more Heralds. Many of which he knew when he was human.
The door opened and Dirk carried in a large basin of water. "I figured you would be thirsty by now."
He had already drunk much of the water Sherri had poured into a large bowl for him. He was just being very careful about how much he drank. Too much would be rather embarrassing.
Dirk eyed the sheepish looking Companion. "I don't care why you did it, but you certainly managed to get Sherri's mind off those men. Talia said she was starting to obsess."
Quin was tempted to answer. How he longed for the closeness they had shared.
Dirk would probably get a kick out of this predicament; everything from being Sherri's devoted, if deceased, papa to being stuck on the fourth floor of the Herald's Wing.
The part where Kris was better described as horse faced would have him howling.
"The good news is, the Blues tell me the floor can support you weight."
Kris hadn't thought of that and eyed the floor warily.
Dirk laughed. "Your Chosen makes a name for herself as ruthless, and you as reckless."
:Better than foolish.: Quin grumbled then froze.
Dirk was eyeing him with absolutely no expression on his face. Not a good sign.
Damn.
"Was that you?"
Quin debated pretending it wasn't. :Yes.:
"Your voice is…familiar."
Quin started praying fervently that age had dulled his friend's memory.
The gods did not love him today.