CHAPTER 49

Myra cleared her throat, catching the attention of her class.  "Now then.  Anyone care to comment?"

One girl stuck her hand in the air.  "If Herald Vanyel was in Hardorn, why did he help those farmers?"

Myra closed the book she had been reading from and met the girl's gaze.  "Are you saying you wouldn't?  A Herald's duty is not just to Valdemarans in need of help, it is to everyone who needs us."

The girl looked down, shamefaced.  "I just mean it was another country, shouldn't their king have helped them?"

"Would Ancar have helped them?  As recent history shows other kingdoms have suffered bad kings, some who were as evil as demons like Ancar.  Perhaps Hardorn's king was too frightened to move against Lord Nedren and his sorcerer.  Perhaps he didn't care or didn't know.  As the song says; I protect all helpless, not just those of Valdemar!  When you put on your Whites you are swearing to helpless that you will never stand aside and let them come to harm."  Myra addressed the class of twelve students.  She still wasn't certain how she had ended up with a class on ethics.  She had first, second and third year students and was responsible for making them completely aware of their responsibilities to their fellow people.

"Like Herald Sherria and Herald Kevyn?"  Some asked.

Myra started to answer when her vision darkened and she plunged into a vision.  She saw the palace gates and two Heralds approaching.  The vision released her quickly, leaving her shaken.

"Herald Myra?"  A third year student touched her hand.  "Are you alright?"

"Yes, sorry."  She quickly regained control of herself.  "Yes, like Sherri and Kevyn.  Half of you will pay the ultimate price before you even have a chance to consider retiring.  Perhaps you will be sent by the Queen who knows she is sending you to death, perhaps, like Sherri and Kevyn, you will find yourself in a position where you are the only people capable of preventing disaster.  It is our duty to stand between people who need us and yell to the Havens that come what may, we are here and waiting."

Myra stumbled again as her vision darkened again and again showed her the gate and the two Heralds.  This time they were closer and she could make out their features.

"Oh gods."  She gripped her desk and took several deep breaths.  "Class dismissed, I want everyone to consider what it really means to be a Herald and be ready to discuss it tomorrow."

The students trailed out of the room, each giving her worried looks.

:Abeni, is that just wishful think or is it real?:  She demanded.

:I am not sure.:  Abeni admitted.  :We felt them die, how could they be alive?:

Myra left her books and strode from the room, heading for the main gate.  Outside a handful of gardeners were piling the new snow off the paths.  Icestone stood in the courtyard watching Del, her raven, ride the wind.

"Herald Myra, I thought you had class."  Icestone greeted her in stilted Valdemaran.

"I just had a vision."  She explained as she strode towards the gates.  "I Saw Sherri and Kevyn, alive and riding towards the Gates."

Icestone followed her.  "But they are dead."

"I know."  Myra stopped just inside the gate, her heart fell when she saw no Heralds approaching.

Icestone patted her shoulder.  "It is probably just you wishing they were coming."

Myra ran her hands through her red curls.  "You are probably right.  It has been months and I would still give almost anything to have them here."

The women started to turn when it was Icestone's turn to freeze.  She got a distant look, as if she wasn't looking through her eyes.  "By the Maiden!"

"What?"  Myra turned back to see two Heralds rounding the bend.  White, hooded cloaks hide their faces.  For a moment she stared, praying desperately.

They seemed to be talking, unaware of the two women waiting in the courtyard hoping to see if it was really the pair that they thought it was.  Del circled and landed on Icestone's shoulder.  He had sensed his Bondmate's thought and had told her of the approaching Heralds. 

~ * ~

"I think we should tell them before we just ride in."  Sherri protested. 

Quin ignored her.

"Having no luck?"  Kevyn asked.  They had spent the last several candlemarks trying to convince the Companions to tell their kindred of their arrival.  Both steadfastly refused.

"You neither?"  Sherri sighed and pulled her cloak tighter against the chill wind.  She had noticed both felt the cold more since they returned from the dead and at the moment both were wrapped in the heaviest Whites they could get from the Restocking station.  A retired guard who, not knowing who they were just replenished their clothing with no questions asked had run the station.

"None.  Stubborn mules."  Kevyn grumbled.

Nick snorted and gave a half-hearted buck.  :Imagine how they would feel waiting for you to arrive.  Just trust us.:

Kevyn grumbled again.

Sherri pushed back her hood to take stock of their surroundings and was stunned to see herself nearly at the gate.  "Blessed Gods!"  Sherri exclaimed when she saw the figures standing motionless under the gate.  "Myra!  Icestone!"

Kevyn looked up and stared at the welcoming party.

Sherri slipped from Quin's back and ran to meet her friends, sliding on the ice as no spirit would.  Kevyn was just steps behind her.

Del flapped into the air as the women ran towards them.

"You're alive."  Myra said as she looped her arms around them both.  Icestone dropped her normal dignity and joined the embrace.

Abeni quickly spread word of their arrival and the Collegium spilled its inhabitants.

"What happened?"  Myra asked, brushing the tears from her face.

"It is better if we explain it all at once."  Sherri told her.  "How are the twins?"

"Wild.  Wouldn't you know it?  They take after their mother."  Myra wiped away tears.

"What about your gift?"  Icestone demanded.

"We figured it out."  Sherri told her.

At that point the others reached them and there were too many questions to answer.  Quin and Nick were escorted off to the Companion barn by a large group of other Companions, obviously receiving the same treatment as their Chosen. 

The guards at the gate watched helplessly as the mass of white moved slowly out of the way towards the Collegium.

More Heralds were arriving and were trying to see if it was true.

"Are they really back from the dead?"  Someone shouted.

"Alive and well!"  Someone else yelled back.

It took five times longer than normal for them to reach the Common room in the Collegium.  Kevyn and Sherri were not even allowed to put their packs away.  Selenay and Talia were the last to join the group.

"I can't believe this."  Selenay said in disbelief before Sherri quickly gave her a hug.  "What happened?"

Heralds and trainees took places on tables and chairs and waited impatiently for them to explain. 

"You do it."  Kevyn insisted.

"I take it everyone already knows why we went north?"  Sherri asked Talia.

"You know how secrets are among Heralds.  Almost everyone knows."  Talia confirmed.

"It started when we arrived at Sorrows."  Sherri started.  "My mother committed suicide when I was a month old and has been haunting it ever since."

"Why'd she do that?"  Someone asked and was quickly shushed.

"She didn't think she could face the responsibility."  Sherri explained.  As she told the story she left out the fact that Quin turned into a human for a few months, but kept most of the facts true.

No one asked any questions until she was done. 

"Why were you two allowed to return?"  Someone asked.  "Why not others?"

"We paid a price to return."  Sherri said softly. 

"What was the price?"  Myra asked.

Both Herald's smiled sadly.

"We would rather not speak of it."  Sherri took Kevyn's hand.  Both had a haunted expression for a moment that convinced those who saw it that there truly was a price.

"Enough of this."  Sherri said brightly.  "What have we missed?"

Eventually people returned to their tasks leaving them alone in the common room.

"I need to talk to Talia."  Sherri said as she stood.  "I'll see you later."

"I wonder what the official story will be this time."  Kevyn kissed her tenderly and gathered their bags.

Sherri shrugged and hurried after the Queen's Own.  She caught up with her before she reached the tower holding her rooms.  "Talia, can I talk to you a moment?"  She called.

Talia stopped and looked back at her noting Sherri's pale face and heavy breathing.  "Are you alright."

"It's getting better."  Sherri assured her.  "I wanted to tell you about my father."

"Your father?  Did you find out who he is?"

Sherri pulled the paper that had been signed at the wedding and offered it to Talia.  Confused, Talia accepted the paper and one line leapt out at her. 

Witness: Herald Kris, Father of the Bride.

"Oh my."  Talia said softly and checked the date.  The same day Kris was seen leaving a bouquet for them.  "I can't believe this."

"He said that he is sorry for not listening to you in Hardorn and swears that he will never distrust an Empath's 'feelings' again."  Sherri said.  "And he said he couldn't be happier that you and Dirk found happiness."

Talia started to hand back the paper when the other names caught her eye. 

Officiating Herald:  Herald Vanyel

Witness:  Bard Stefen

"But…how?"  Talia asked.

Sherri took back the paper and gave her a wink.  "I never do things the ordinary way."

Talia watched as she made her way back down the hall.  She could Feel Rolan's assurance that she was correct about her parentage.

"She does have his arrogance at times."  Talia admitted to the empty hall.

~ * ~

Avren was keeping only half his attention on his route as he returned to his rooms, more intent on reading the report from the south.  A groups of bandits had been seen just inside Valdemar and the troops in the area were already trying to hunt them down.

He nearly ran into someone before he looked up.

He started to apologize when the words froze in his throat.

Sherri stood before him, as solid as the walls around them looking pale and a little weak but very much alive.  "No hug?"  She asked lightly.

Avren dropped his papers and scooped her up into a powerful bear hug.  "We thought you were dead." He said inanely.

She returned his hug with equal joy.  "We were.  We were allowed to return, with a few conditions."

Avren felt tears pouring down his cheeks.  "I read all your letters.  Even those you sent to the others."

Sherri kissed his cheek and drew back so she could see his face; not too far considering her feet weren't touching the ground.  "Thank you.  You didn't have to."

"I did."  Avren corrected. 

"I am glad you did.  Why don't you put me down?  I can't be very light."  Sherri urged.

Reluctantly Avren set her on the ground and just stared at her.  "You look sick."

"I am still recovering from being dead.  Kevyn and I both are."  She admitted and started to collect his papers from where they lay.

"So he came back too."  Avren sounded far from pleased.

Sherri held up her left hand.  "Careful, he is your nephew now."

Avren sighed.  "Just remember, if he ever hurts you…"  He let the threat hang.

Sherri laughed, the most wonderful sound he had heard in months.  "He has already died for me, what more could I ask of him?"

"How about babies?"  Avren suggested.

Sherri blushed.  "Give us time."

"About how much time?"  Avren said, surprised at the change in her answer.

"About eight and a half months."  She said with a smile as Avren stared at her.

Kevyn will be disappointed he missed seeing this, Sherri thought.

~ * ~

The twins hung off 'Uncle Kev' trying to pull him to the ground and calling him the great bed monster.  The identical girls had started on him as they saw them.  They had paused to assure Sherri that they had always known they would come back, no matter what people said.

"They have grown like weeds."  Sherri commented from her place by the fire.  She had a blanket over her lap and her legs tucked under her to ward off the chill.

Myra nodded with a long-suffering sigh.  "I know, I can't seem to keep up with them.  Clothing barely seems to last a week for them.  So, tell me about your wedding?  I can't believe you two finally did it."

"It was a beautiful day.  The leaves were underfoot.  Even my father made an appearance so he could give me away."  Sherri started.  "Yfandes stood in for mother of the bride.  Stef played a gittern, a lovely old love song.  Vanyel heard our vows.  And Kevyn…"  She paused to smile like an infatuated young girl.  "He looked absolutely delicious."

Myra laughed.  "And now he is all yours."

"For eternity."  Sherri agreed.  "And it doesn't seem long enough."

"What about this price?  Did you lose your magic?"  Myra asked.

"No.  We will live until the next True Seer needs us.  No matter what happened we would live."  Sherri's eyes darkened.  How many times had the prospect of forever hung over her?  "Even if I went completely mad.  Kevyn would have had to stay with me through out it all."

"Gods, what a risk!  Is it really worth it though?  And what do you mean by 'until the next True Seer needs us'?"

"We finally understand it.  It isn't like most Gifts.  It most be blocked within, like the block did.  Everything we tried was outside my body."  Sherri toyed with the edge of her blanket.

"So you risked everything and won.  Any idea how long you will live now?"  Myra asked.

"It could be five days or five centuries.  And my Gift will continue to get stronger.  There is still a chance it will overwhelm me." 

Myra patted her hand reassuringly.  "You will always be stronger than the Gift, I know it."

Sherri gave her a grateful smile.  "There is another bit of news, I have only told my uncle Avren."

"What is it?"  Myra leaned forward; hoping this bit of news was better than the reality of their price.

Sherri glanced at Kevyn.  "I am pregnant."

"What!"  Myra exclaimed and quickly covered her mouth.  "Are you certain?"

"Very, I can Feel her."  Sherri grinned.  "I am still trying to find the right time to tell Kevyn, Nick, and Quin, but I just had to tell someone."

"This is wonderful!"  Myra whispered excitedly.  "Can you feel her thoughts?"

"It is more like I can feel her presence."  Sherri confessed. 

"And you haven't told any of them yet?  Oh, I wish I could see their faces.  Any idea when?"

"Soon.  Before I start blanching at the sight of food like a certain someone I know."  Sherri teased.

"Don't remind me."  Myra rolled her eyes.  "I won't tell anyone until you tell them, but make it really quick."

"Tonight I think."  Sherri assured her. 

"Aren't you scared she'll be a true seer?"  Myra noticed Kevyn was watching them suspiciously.

"No.  Now tell me what else the girls have been up to besides dying Dirk's hair into rainbows."  Sherri urged.

"Well, Avren has been watching them at least once a week and he seems to bear the brunt of their mischief."  Myra chuckled as she remembered many of the tales she had wished she could share with them at the time.  "Once they drew pictures on important scrolls that were later passed around the Council.  One day Avren had to give them a bath and the little scamps promptly hid in his bed when they were sopping wet and ruined his mattress.  They even snuck into a Council meeting and called each other peabrain and diddlewit for weeks afterwards.  Avren had to haul them out."

Sherri laughed, more at Myra's exasperated but loving look she bestowed on the girls.

Kevyn finally admitted defeat and took a seat with Myra on the couch.  Hana joined Sherri on the chair and Neri crawled on to her mother's lap.

"I'm glad you came back."  Hana said and rested her head on Sherri's arm.  "But don't go away again."

Sherri placed a kiss on the little girl's forehead.  "We are back now and that is what is most important."

"We better go check on Quin and Nick."  Kevyn said, seeing how sleepy the girls were.

"See if they have been interrogated as thoroughly as we were as well."  Sherri joked.

The girls begged them to stay, as expected, but reluctantly let them leave.

Kevyn rest his arm around her waist and pulled her close.  "I forgot how much I missed them."

"I wish I had their energy.  You look exhausted."  Sherri commented.  "Remember not to over do it, Ashke."

"You too."  He reminded her with an affectionate squeeze.

They found the Companions in the Stable enjoying the warmth it offered after being out in the cold weather.

:How bad was it?:  Kevyn asked.

:Bad.  They still want to know more about what Quin did and Rolan really disapproves of his stunt with the flowers.:  Nick informed them.

:Disapproves is too light a word.  They are still shocked that I managed to reverse it.:  Quin chortled.

:I did get to see my little angels.:  Nick said happily.  They knew he had missed his daughters dreadfully while they were up north.  :They all wanted to know how daddy managed to live.:

Sherri leaned back against Kris's broad chest and he wrapped his arms around her.  :I imagine our own little girl will want to know how we survived too one day.:

Kevyn froze.  :Are you saying…:

Quin stared at her in shock.  :A girl?  You know already?:

Sherri laughed, drawing the attention of the others in the stable.  :I can Feel her.:  She turned to see Kevyn's still stunned expression.  :So how does it feel too be an impending daddy?:

Kevyn ran his hands over her flat stomach.  :When?:

:On our wedding day.:

:Conceived in laughter.  I think it portends great things for our little girl.:  Nick said proudly. 

:I can hardly believe it.:  Kevyn said so only she could hear.  :And you knew all this time?:

:Would you have agreed to ride back immediately if you knew?  I also wanted the perfect time to tell you.:

Kevyn rested his hands possessively on her flat tummy.  :It is perfect.: