CHAPTER 46

Kevyn came awake with a rush and rolled to his feet even before he came back to himself enough to be aware of his surroundings.  Quin charged past him into the darkness.  Nick stopped long enough for Kevyn to scramble on before he too plunged into the darkness.

:Where is she?:  Kevyn demanded of all who could hear him.

:We can't get close.:  Vanyel respond from somewhere in the night.  :Whatever it is, it is too strong.:

Kevyn could feel her slipping farther away.  "Sherri, please don't leave me."

~ * ~

To Sherri it felt like summer sun on her skin, as the light grew closer.  She could no longer hear or Feel Jelana, it was just her alone within the light.

For a heartbeat she felt like the light was all she wanted.

Images of terrified, innocent children flooded her mind.  Images of the five Karsites she had killed reared up, tainting the light. 

How many more Seers would become like Jelana before it ended?  Fear, not for herself but for people she had never met, people who hadn't even been born.

:Daughter?:  A strange voice filled her soul.

:I can't go.:  Sherri cried to the light. 

~ * ~

Even the Companions had been forced to stop by the thick, living darkness that stood between them and Sherri.  Kevyn dismounted and stumbled forward on his own, determined to reach her.  The darkness clung to him making him feel tainted.  His heart pounded in his chest as he fought to reach her.

Finally the black mist thinned and he stumbled into the small copse.  Sherri lay prone on the ground, her eyes open and vacant, next to a strange woman who was sobbing brokenly.  Kevyn staggered to Sherri's side and fell to his knees.

"Sherri!"  Kevyn cried as he fumbled for a pulse, his own heart racing at the thought of losing her.

Her skin was cold as if she had been dead for many hours and no pulse stirred her blood.

Kevyn gripped her hand tightly calling her for all he was worth his heart and mind. 

Slowly the reality of her cold, empty eyes sank into his soul.  The future without her reared before him, unbearable in its emptiness.

~ * ~

Quin kept calling for her even though he could no longer Feel her presence as he had since the day he had first seen her in these very woods when he ran from his mother to find his daughter.  Only the thick miasma of darkness kept him from charging to her.

:The mist is thinning.:  Stefen said with strain and fear in his sending.  :I think I see them.:

:What's going on?:  Nick demanded as he tried to struggle forward.

A blast of power from Vanyel dispelled the mist, finally revealing the three figures.

Kevyn was hunched over Sherri with his back to them.  Power snapped in the air around him as he used every thread of Power he could reach to call her back.

Next to them was a stranger.  Quin and Nick both recoiled at the miasma of madness that clung to her.  She was obviously the source of the darkness.

The rescuers stared for a long moment at the horrid tableau.

Silence reigned for several seconds before the tolling of a Bell filled the night.

:Kevyn?:  Nick stepped for and nudged his arm. 

"Let her be!"  The woman suddenly came alive as the bell continued its mournful announcement.  With inhuman strength she hauled Kevyn away from Sherri, her nearly white eyes wide and maddened as she advanced on the Herald.

Kevyn stared at her, his eyes filled with acceptance.  He didn't even struggle to his feet.

Nick charged her, his teeth bared.  His lethal hooves struck at her, passing through her as if through air.  :A ghost!:

An unseen Stefen grabbed for her, hoping to slow her.  Where he touched her smoke rose and his hands burned.  Ignoring the pain he refused to release his hold.

Van recklessly sent magebolt after magebolt at the mad woman, Yfandes feeding him from the Heartstone at the heart of Haven.

A long slender knife formed in her hand as if from smoke and darkness.

~ * ~

Myra was jolted awake by the sound of the Death Bell.  For a moment she stared at the ceiling before she rolled on her side, sobs shaking her slender form.  Her mind reeled under the burst of knowledge that she had been both expecting and dreading.

Sherri had died struggling to breath against a tight band around her throat.

Had things gone so wrong so quickly?

:Hush, I know.  At least she has peace.:  Abeni tried to comfort her.  :Go to the others, I will make certain the girls don't wake.:

Myra staggered from her bed and out of her room to the hall, towards the Common Room where the other Heralds would be gathering to share what they knew and offer comfort.

~ * ~

Selenay was wondering absently when her council, would finish with the petty insults and return to the business at hand, the increased criminal activity in the area surrounding Exile's gate, when the Bell tolled.

She stared at the large painting of the crest of Valdemar for several long, pain filled seconds before she swallowed her tears and turned back to her council.  Talia gave her a knowing look.  As Queen she was not permitted time to grieve the loss of her Herald and friend.

:What of Kevyn?:  Selenay asked Caryo, her Companion, as she tried to keep tears from leaking from the corners of her eyes.

~ * ~

Myra was immediately ushered to a table by a friend and someone settled an arm around her shoulders.  The people around her spoke in hushed tones. 

"She must have hung herself."  One person off to her left said.  "It must have become too much."

Silence hung in the air for a second before a fresh wave of pain and knowledge swamped them all. 

Kevyn was dead.

~ * ~

They watched helplessly as the dark blade arced down into Kevyn's chest, finding his heart. 

Nick stumbled to his knees as the shock of Kevyn's death hit him.  :No!:

Quin finally shook off his almost trance like state.  The dual loss of daughter and Chosen was nearly enough to shatter his very soul.

Almost as if she sensed his intent, the woman turned to face him.  A ghostly blue light filled the copse, its light striking the lingering darkness and sending it fleeing.  They all stared, as his body grew as bright as a dying sun.

:He is going to final strike!:  Vanyel warned helpless to do anything.

All stared as a man coalesced within the light, every feature in stark relief and emblazoned upon their minds.  His midnight black hair and penetrating blue eyes so much like Sherri's.  His features unchanged from the day decades earlier when arrows had ended his life.

"Leave!"  His voice ripped through the trees reaching even the revellers at the keep. 

A lance of pure, blue light struck the woman in the chest.  Her eyes glowed for a brief moment before she shattered.

~ * ~

The light grew until it was everything, banishing every thought and every emotion within her.

Slowly it faded to reveal a grove with a white temple at its heart.  It took her a few moments to realise it was the Grove the first Companions were said to have emerged from.

Beside her Kevyn stood clad in his whites and awe on his face.  She took his nearest hand in her own and held it tightly.  She was surprised to find she felt no fear.  Despite the familiar surroundings she was struck mute as she stared at the semi transparent trees that seemed to go on forever.

Kevyn was the first to find his voice.  "Oh Gods…"

Sherri squeezed his hand tighter and nodded her agreement.  Kevyn pulled her closer, almost suspicious.

"Are we dead?"  Sherri's voice didn't quaver as she called out.

"You are."  An echoing female voice said as a man and woman clad in Whites, only their incredible blue eyes were discernable on their shadowed faces.

The memories of her last few minutes flooded her.  Sherri frowned as she thought of Quin and Nick.  What horrible torment they must be feeling at this moment.  Poor Nick would never see his little angels again and Quin must feel so guilty for not going with her.

A soft chuckle drew her attention to the man.  "Ever a Herald.  First thoughts always of others."

"We wouldn't have been Chosen if we weren't that way by nature."  Kevyn pointed out.

"Of course."  The man agreed.

"Let me go back."  Sherri said with out preamble.  Neither deity seemed surprised at her request but Kevyn stared at her blankly

"What good could you do?"  The woman asked.

"If you let me go back I will do my best to master my True Sight and remain to teach those who come after me."  Sherri refused to look away from their compelling gazes. 

"What makes you think you could do it now when you have failed up until now?"  The man asked.  The pair stopped just feet away from Sherri and Kevyn.  Kevyn pulled her tighter against his side, not wanting to risk losing her.

"I have Jelana's knowledge.  I Saw what they tried to teach her and she failed to grasp, what we failed even to consider.  This power is within us, as she said, we are vessels; the power must be contained within.  Like the block."  Sherri tightened her grip on Kevyn's hand.  Even if it meant she had to lose him she had to do this.  If she didn't succeeding generations would do as Jelana had done. 

Kevyn squeezed her hand, communicating his understanding.

~ * ~

The now human Kris cradled Sherri's body gently against him.  The sorrow of the mourners was tangible.  Nick was next to Kevyn, his head hung low, his normally jovial humor banished by the loss of his Chosen.

Unseen, the spirits stared at the two pairs.  Unasked questions hovered in the air.

The darkness that kept the animals hidden abolished, the forest resumed its normal nighttime activity.  A silent owl swooped down to pluck up an adventurous mouse.  Crickets started their nightly concert.

Kris stroked Sherri's hair away from her face.  Large welts stained her neck leaving no doubts as to what had killed her.

:Could you move him?:  Nick asked hesitantly.

Kris stared at his hands for a moment before nodding, almost stunned to see them there.  He moved Kevyn from where his body lay crumpled and laid him out next to Sherri.  Except for the signs of violence he could almost believe they were sleeping.

"I never once held her when she was alive."  Kris said to no one in particular.

He felt a ghostly touch on his shoulder.  :I know.:  Yfandes said simply.

~ * ~

Running a hand through his hair Herald Ferris stared out into the deceptively quiet night.  He had carried the messages to Sherri and had seen Favram ride out to them just the day before.  He had spoken with them at the revel and they had seemed so happy together.

And now they were gone. 

:Ferris, her uncles.:  Ressa, his Companion, reminded him.  :They deserve to be told.:

:I know.:  Ferris rose unsteadily and made his way to the cluster of men.  They were obviously oblivious to what had happened.

:Don't tell them it was suicide.:  Ressa suggested.

:I won't.:  Ferris assured her.  "Sirs?"

The six men greeted him with curiosity.  "Is something wrong, Herald?"  One of the younger ones asked.

"Something is very wrong.  I am sorry, but Sherri and Kevyn were just killed."

They stared at him for several moments, shock written on their faces.

"They were just here."  One protested as he lunged to his feet.  "What killed them?  Where are they?"

"I don't know where they are.  Ressa said they were called away to an emergency and whatever it was…killed them.  She thinks it was a Change Beast."  Ferris lied.

Ethen went pale, part of his duties was to hunt and kill change beasts.  He knew that when one required even one mage it is bad, when it needed two…

"Is it dead?"  Ethen asked.  His hands shook as he tried to process the information.

"We believe they used a final strike.  It must have been too powerful for them.  I am sorry."  Ferris lied gently.

Favram patted his shoulder, his eyes were filled with pain.  "Thank you for telling us."

"Is there…anything remaining?"  One of the older men asked.

"No.  After a final strike nothing remains."  Ferris remembered the strange blue light that occurred just after the bells tolled.  "That light we saw, was them."

"If it was that close they must not have had a choice in how to kill it."  Ethen said mournfully.  "May they find peace."