CHAPTER 39

Myra could tell from the moment she entered the room that she was about to hear some bad news.  Sherri and Kevyn were both looking worried and strained.

:They don't want the girls the next time I go out.:  Myra guessed.

:I don't believe that is the problem.:  Abeni hedged.

"What's wrong?"  Myra asked.

Sherri rubbed her forehead, a sure sign that she was nervous.  "The block on my true sight is failing.  We can't fix it."

Myra sank onto one of the chairs.  "Oh, Sherri.  I…what are you going to do?"

"Tomorrow we are heading north.  The less stress she is under the slower it wears down."

"And neither of you are coming back." Myra said with dreadful knowledge.  "Gods, I thought we had put this behind us.  Are you going to stay at the keep?"

"For a few days."  Sherri explained.  "Long enough to get some supplies ready.  There is a hunting lodge we are going to use."

"I'll write to Favram and have him ferry out my letters, if that's alright."  Myra offered, her eyes were starting to tear up.  "I hate good byes."

Sherri nodded and looked down at her hands.  "You better get back to the girl's before they decided to play with ink, again."

"I'll see you both off tomorrow."  Myra warned.  It was obvious neither wanted prolonged, depressing good byes.  Myra resolved to act as if it wasn't a final farewell.  "I imagine you both are desperate some privacy after taking care of the girls for so long.  I am in your debt for life."

"Don't worry about it."  Sherri assured her.  "We were glad to help."

"But not so glad to be woken in the middle of the night to change damp sheets."  Myra said lightly.  "I'll have a page bring you a nice, lovers' supper.  It is the very least I can do."

As Myra left the room they both relaxed.  Kevyn rubbed Sherri's shoulder lovingly. 

"Ashke," Sherri turned to face him, "Is there anyone else you want to say farewell to?"

"No.  I said my farewells already."  Kevyn assured her.  "We have tonight for ourselves."

:You have been making him miserable.:  Quin pointed out.  :Stop dwelling on what can't be changed and enjoy what time you have together.:

Sherri blushed.  "Let's not let it go to waste."

~ * ~

A pair of scurrying forms crossed the bedroom floor and tossed themselves onto the bed.

"Umph."  Sherri slowly pulled herself out of sleep and found a familiar pair staring at her.

"You're not wearing a nightgown."  Neri pointed out the obvious.

Sherri sighed and replaced her head on Kevyn's shoulder.  :So much for a night of peace.:

:What do they want?:  Kevyn asked drowsily.

"What's wrong?"  Sherri asked.

Hana and Neri settled on each side of the drowsy couple.  "We couldn't sleep."  Hana said as she wiggled under the covers.  "Why are you naked?"

:Myra!:  Sherri called desperately.  :Your angels have escaped.:

It took her several minutes to respond.  :What?:

:Your angels are in our bed, asking why we are naked, now unless you want us to answer…:

:I am coming.:  Myra assured her with a mental chuckle.  :Remember, they are used to you two being the ones they run to in the middle of the night.:

:Just one night…:  Sherri said longingly.

:I tried.:  Myra swore.

"Can you tell me a story?"  Neri asked longingly.

:You better hurry.:  Kevyn said as he sighed and gave up the illusion of sleep.  "What about your mom?  She will be worried."

"But we are just here?"  Hana said in obvious confusion.

A soft knock warned them that Myra had come after her runaway offspring.  "Are you two in here?"

"Are you going to sleep in here too?"  Neri asked.  "There's room in the middle."

Myra chuckled.  "I don't think they would appreciate me joining them."  She scooped up one girl in each arm and hefted them on to her hips.  "Care for a midnight snack?"

Both girls nodded eagerly.

:Nothing to drink.:  Sherri warned.  :Trust me on that.:

:Thanks.:  Myra carried off the interlopers leaving them alone again.

Sherri shifted closer to Kevyn.  :I am going to miss them.:

:So will I.:  Kevyn kissed the top of her head.  :How long till dawn?:

:Several candlemarks.:  Sherri assured him as she nuzzled his neck.  :Are you tired?:

:We have a long ride ahead of us.:  Kevyn reminded her as he started to return her caresses.

:I am sure the boys will understand if we sleep in the saddle.:

~ * ~

Sherri rubbed her temples willing the pounding to ease.  They weren't even on the road yet and she knew it was going to be a bad day.

:Should we wait a few days?:  Quin asked.

:No.  I want to get going.  It will pass soon enough.:  Sherri sighed and resumed checking his tack.  :Are you going to miss Jenia?:

Quin glanced towards the Companion mare watching them from the field, she had been his night time companion of late.  :Trading Jenia for Dominick is a poor bargain.:

:I heard that.:  Nick snorted.

:You were supposed to.:  Quin said sardonically.

Sherri ignored the banter as she tugged the last strap.  They had both packed minimum of clothes so that they wouldn't be slowed down by having chirras or mules along

 Satisfied she was ready she started to swing into the saddle.

The block failed just as her foot left the ground.  All of Quin's emotions and thoughts flood her, sending her reeling.

Quin stared helplessly as she fell from the saddle, gasping desperately for air.

"Sherri!"  Kevyn sprinted across the courtyard and was at her side in a heartbeat.  "Gods!  Please, say something."

"I'm fine."  Sherri assured him as she regained her breath.  "It was just a flash of True Sight."

Kevyn pulled her close to his chest as other Heralds and Healers ran to their aid.  Talia was the first to reach them.

"Sherri?"  She knelt next to Sherri and grabbed her hand.

Sherri winced at the after echoes she was receiving from the Queen's Own but sat up.  She now knew from experience that the double vision and other signs of her gift would take about a candlemark to fade.  "I'm fine." 

Talia blanched at the strange sensation of seeing through two sets of eyes.  "By all the gods!"

Sherri jerked her hand away, breaking the accidental link.

"I'm sorry, that wasn't intentional."  Talia said in a daze as she looked over her shoulder at the hovering Quin.  She could have sworn she just saw her long deceased friend, Kris, behind her.  As she turned an odd sense of disorientation and a wave of what felt like apology washed over her from Rolan.  Talia turned back to Sherri.  "You should talk to a mindhealer, you definitely shouldn't be alone."

Sherri glanced at Kevyn.  "We have to go."

Kevyn looked doubtful but didn't stop her as she stood and swung into saddle.

"Are you coming, love?"  She asked as she urged Quin towards the gate.

Kevyn swung into Nick's saddle and followed her, still concerned.

Talia was still kneeling on the ground, staring after them when they cleared the gate.

"Talia?  Are you alright?"  Dirk, a late arrival on the scene, touched her shoulder.

Talia shook off her shock and quickly led him away from the dispersing crowd.  "Oh, by the gods, her pain!  It was an accident, but we linked for just a heartbeat.  I could see through her eyes and feel everything she felt.  It's like she had been given a new chance at life, and just as she starting to believe it is real, it is stolen again."

"Is she going to be alright?"

"She is going to die, by her own hand, after she was finally starting to think she could have her own life.  Of course she isn't going to be alright."

~ * ~

Sherri didn't slow from a trot until she was well past the last of the city gates.  "I am sorry about that, but I didn't want to explain what she saw."

"What did she see?"

"Quin.  Herald Kris was her Mentor on her internship.  She must have recognized him."

"That would be hard to explain away."  Kevyn admitted.  "At least we had no long good byes.  Do you think she is going to come after us for an explanation?"

:No.  She won't.:  Quin assured both of them.  :Companions are very good at keeping their secrets.:

:The twins might.:  Nick warned.  :They were quite upset to be losing you.:

They had made their farewells to the twins even before they left the palace.  The girls hadn't understood why they were leaving but they both knew the girls would be fine.

"I am going to miss them."  Sherri sighed.

"Out of curiosity."  Kevyn glanced down at Quin.  "Since he was your father…"

Sherri laughed.  "How did he react to you and me?  How do you think he reacted, he was just like a typical father with a guilt complex.  He overreacted and grumbled."

:Hurt her and I will trample you.:  Quin warned with a grumble.

"I would never do anything to harm her."  Kevyn assured him as he leaned across the space between the Companions for a quick kiss.

"Scoundrel."  Sherri teased as she returned the kiss.1

:Ah, young love.:  Nick teased the pair.

:More like young lifebond.:  Quin corrected, but only so his fellow Companion could hear.  :I hope their spirits keep up for a while longer.: