Pounding on her door resulted in Saphri falling from her bed to
the floor. She groaned when she noticed there was no sun outside her
window. It was still night. After much fumbling around, she was able to
light a candle and answer the consistent knocking. The figure didn't allow
her to see who he was, but picked her up and hugged her close to him. Then
he held her at arm's length and stared.
"By the gods, have you grown? No, of course you haven't. I only shrunk."
Saphri punched her cousin playfully, for that is who he was. "Rynen! I didn't know you were coming back so soon, otherwise I would have met you down at the gates!"
"I didn't want you to miss any sleep." he joked, a wicked twinkle in his eyes.
She looked him over. He had been with her aunt and uncle, his parents, in Fenbrooke for the winter season and half of spring. Another two inches had been added to his height, at least. As always, he stood tall and lean with a good natured smiled plastered onto his face. Saphri smiled and gave him another hug, which he returned. Both had been very close during their childhood, since Saphril lived with her uncle and aunt. The mischief they caused when they were young had earned them the title of "The Terrible Two" in Fenbrooke.
"How have you been? How is everyone back home? Would you like to come in?" she asked as an afterthought. Rynenilkum must have come straight out of the saddle to see her. He certainly looked that way, with dark circles under his eyes and a riding cloak still fastened about his neck.
He shook his head. "No. My bed is calling me. I think I will find my way there. You don't mind do you?
"Not at all."
Rynen turned to leave but stopped before he went too far and walked back. "Oh, and one more thing."
Saphri was puzzled. "What? Wait - Kataya."
"Yes, your friend. The tall red-haired one. There was some commotion in one of the ill wards when I came down. She was there. I thought you would like to know."
Rynen only stared as his cousin kissed his cheek lightly and ran off with a vague, "Thank you; sleep well."
-~-
There was still a ruckus when Saphri arrived near the illness wards in the Healer's Collegium. A Healer stood outside the door speaking to a young Trainee dressed in pale green. The Trainee ran off after a few words, most likely to fetch some errand for the Healer. From inside the room came shouting and Saphri could distinctly recognize Kataya's own hoarse voice struggling to be heard over the noise.
The Healer stepped up and looked at Saphri's attire, which consisted of her sleep wear. He only shook his head. "Get back to bed, Unaffiliate. She is going to be fine."
At that moment the door opened and a Herald that she knew none too well came out. Saphri took a step backward from the Dean of the Herald's Collegium. Herald Catzen was known for her sharp wits, sharp sword, and sharp tongue.
"Healer Herut. The Trainee is all yours. May I recommend you make the potions as bitter as possible so she will think twice about refusing syrups at the first sign of a cold." She lifted an eyebrow at the sight of the sleep-tossled Unaffiliate, her golden eyes softening. "I should haveI expected you to show up. You may go in, but only for a short time. I want Kataya back on her feet as soon as possible. Healer, can I have a word?"
Saphri nodded and passed the two adults into the room. It was well lit with a fire going. Kataya was tucked in among many blankets looking as miserable as a child who couldn't play because it was raining outdoors. The Herald Trainee pulled the covers over her head at the sight of her friend.
"Not you, too. Being dressed down by Catzen was horrible enough." groaned Kataya. Her normally loud voice was cracked with pain and exhaustion.
She pulled up a three-legged stool, setting it down beside the bed and sitting in it. Her fingers ran over the wool blanket before she whispered, "You promised."
Silence. Kataya didn't meet her eyes and both knew. They sat in quiet, the torch on the wall flickering back and forth. Catzen and Healer Herut had left, because no conversation could be heard from the hallway. The Healer Trainee came in with syrups and a glass of water before leaving to attend to other duties. And the girls sat on.
"I'm sorry." Tears of sorrow and pain crept down the Herald Trainee's face and dripped off her chin. She was too tired to wipe them away herself, so Saphri dried the tears with the corner of the blanket.
"I forgive you. But you realize that pnemonia isn't going to be pleasant? You are lucky someone snitched on your sniffles. It will only last a few days. You will learn for next time."
Kataya sighed bitterly. "I guess I will."
-~-
Catzen lead the Healer to her Dean's Office in the Herald's Collegium. She motioned for him to make himself comfortable then seated herself behind her desk. Paper fluttered around and she scooped them out of the way and into a drawer.
"Healer Herut, I know you expect me to ask you about Kataya and her condition, but that is not the reason I brought you here." she said frankly, watching the expression of the man with satisfaction. Slight alarm, and the quickly recovered calm, proved her assumption correct. "No. I know that the Unaffiliate Saphri dorms in the Healer's Colleguim with special permission from the Dean. She oftens eats with the Trainees on our side of the collegia with Kataya. I don't know much about her, but something has just peaked my interest in her. If it is no trouble, can you tell me about her?"
The healer contimplated for a moment. It was rare for Heralds to show curiousity in a Blue, especially the Dean. But information was not with-held from Heralds unless otherwise known, and there seemed to be no harm in tell her.
He opened his hands to indicated that he had no idea where to start. "I believe Saphrimienelle lived in Fenbrooke with her uncle and aunt. It is near the Rethwellan border, explaining the long names. Her cousin, Rynenilkum, came to study Healing. He is here now. She followed after deciding she would take the life of an Artificer. We gave her a room here, because she has a great knowledge of herbs and is hard working."
"A knowledge of herbs?" inquired the Dean.
"The family has owned a apothecary for decades. Herb lore is passed down through the generations. They have given us many good Healers over the years." Herut explained.
Catzen nodding, noting this in her memory. "Go on. How does she know Kataya?"
"I believe Kataya is also from Fenbrooke, and they knew each other by name there. When Saphri came to Haven, they met during a festival. The friendship went from there. You may have noticed that they are unusually close."
There was a slight tone of question in his last statement that made the Herald smile broadly. "You are wondering whether they are lifebonded? No. The teachers and I have tried many times to read them while they are together. There is no such bond as that, but still..."
The Healer shifted foward in his seat. His eyebrows were nearly touching the top of his forehead. It made a comical sight. "You mean, there is a bond between those girls? Close to, perhaps, the bond between a Companion and his Herald?"
Catzen snorted. "The bond between them comes no where close! But yes, there is a bond. I noticed it tonight, when Saphri appeared at the wards though she should have been in bed. It could be useful in the future; it would be more useful if Saphri was Chosen, but it is the Companion's Choice, not the Dean's."
"I take it for granted that you wish this to remain unknown." Herut said dryly.
"Yes. Neither girl realizes what keeps them so close, and the Collegium has decided to let them discover it on their own. We will be grateful for your silence in this matter. And we thank you for the information you provide us." the Herald told him, her eyes serious yet warm.
Herut was able to read between the words of the Herald and nodded. He had been subtley requested to keep on eye on Saphri without arousing suspicion and to report any oddities to the Dean herself. A task he would take with pleasure.
((Author Note : Sorry for two things! First, for the length of time it took me to write this and post it. Second, for it being so short. I promise better in the future.))
"By the gods, have you grown? No, of course you haven't. I only shrunk."
Saphri punched her cousin playfully, for that is who he was. "Rynen! I didn't know you were coming back so soon, otherwise I would have met you down at the gates!"
"I didn't want you to miss any sleep." he joked, a wicked twinkle in his eyes.
She looked him over. He had been with her aunt and uncle, his parents, in Fenbrooke for the winter season and half of spring. Another two inches had been added to his height, at least. As always, he stood tall and lean with a good natured smiled plastered onto his face. Saphri smiled and gave him another hug, which he returned. Both had been very close during their childhood, since Saphril lived with her uncle and aunt. The mischief they caused when they were young had earned them the title of "The Terrible Two" in Fenbrooke.
"How have you been? How is everyone back home? Would you like to come in?" she asked as an afterthought. Rynenilkum must have come straight out of the saddle to see her. He certainly looked that way, with dark circles under his eyes and a riding cloak still fastened about his neck.
He shook his head. "No. My bed is calling me. I think I will find my way there. You don't mind do you?
"Not at all."
Rynen turned to leave but stopped before he went too far and walked back. "Oh, and one more thing."
Saphri was puzzled. "What? Wait - Kataya."
"Yes, your friend. The tall red-haired one. There was some commotion in one of the ill wards when I came down. She was there. I thought you would like to know."
Rynen only stared as his cousin kissed his cheek lightly and ran off with a vague, "Thank you; sleep well."
-~-
There was still a ruckus when Saphri arrived near the illness wards in the Healer's Collegium. A Healer stood outside the door speaking to a young Trainee dressed in pale green. The Trainee ran off after a few words, most likely to fetch some errand for the Healer. From inside the room came shouting and Saphri could distinctly recognize Kataya's own hoarse voice struggling to be heard over the noise.
The Healer stepped up and looked at Saphri's attire, which consisted of her sleep wear. He only shook his head. "Get back to bed, Unaffiliate. She is going to be fine."
At that moment the door opened and a Herald that she knew none too well came out. Saphri took a step backward from the Dean of the Herald's Collegium. Herald Catzen was known for her sharp wits, sharp sword, and sharp tongue.
"Healer Herut. The Trainee is all yours. May I recommend you make the potions as bitter as possible so she will think twice about refusing syrups at the first sign of a cold." She lifted an eyebrow at the sight of the sleep-tossled Unaffiliate, her golden eyes softening. "I should haveI expected you to show up. You may go in, but only for a short time. I want Kataya back on her feet as soon as possible. Healer, can I have a word?"
Saphri nodded and passed the two adults into the room. It was well lit with a fire going. Kataya was tucked in among many blankets looking as miserable as a child who couldn't play because it was raining outdoors. The Herald Trainee pulled the covers over her head at the sight of her friend.
"Not you, too. Being dressed down by Catzen was horrible enough." groaned Kataya. Her normally loud voice was cracked with pain and exhaustion.
She pulled up a three-legged stool, setting it down beside the bed and sitting in it. Her fingers ran over the wool blanket before she whispered, "You promised."
Silence. Kataya didn't meet her eyes and both knew. They sat in quiet, the torch on the wall flickering back and forth. Catzen and Healer Herut had left, because no conversation could be heard from the hallway. The Healer Trainee came in with syrups and a glass of water before leaving to attend to other duties. And the girls sat on.
"I'm sorry." Tears of sorrow and pain crept down the Herald Trainee's face and dripped off her chin. She was too tired to wipe them away herself, so Saphri dried the tears with the corner of the blanket.
"I forgive you. But you realize that pnemonia isn't going to be pleasant? You are lucky someone snitched on your sniffles. It will only last a few days. You will learn for next time."
Kataya sighed bitterly. "I guess I will."
-~-
Catzen lead the Healer to her Dean's Office in the Herald's Collegium. She motioned for him to make himself comfortable then seated herself behind her desk. Paper fluttered around and she scooped them out of the way and into a drawer.
"Healer Herut, I know you expect me to ask you about Kataya and her condition, but that is not the reason I brought you here." she said frankly, watching the expression of the man with satisfaction. Slight alarm, and the quickly recovered calm, proved her assumption correct. "No. I know that the Unaffiliate Saphri dorms in the Healer's Colleguim with special permission from the Dean. She oftens eats with the Trainees on our side of the collegia with Kataya. I don't know much about her, but something has just peaked my interest in her. If it is no trouble, can you tell me about her?"
The healer contimplated for a moment. It was rare for Heralds to show curiousity in a Blue, especially the Dean. But information was not with-held from Heralds unless otherwise known, and there seemed to be no harm in tell her.
He opened his hands to indicated that he had no idea where to start. "I believe Saphrimienelle lived in Fenbrooke with her uncle and aunt. It is near the Rethwellan border, explaining the long names. Her cousin, Rynenilkum, came to study Healing. He is here now. She followed after deciding she would take the life of an Artificer. We gave her a room here, because she has a great knowledge of herbs and is hard working."
"A knowledge of herbs?" inquired the Dean.
"The family has owned a apothecary for decades. Herb lore is passed down through the generations. They have given us many good Healers over the years." Herut explained.
Catzen nodding, noting this in her memory. "Go on. How does she know Kataya?"
"I believe Kataya is also from Fenbrooke, and they knew each other by name there. When Saphri came to Haven, they met during a festival. The friendship went from there. You may have noticed that they are unusually close."
There was a slight tone of question in his last statement that made the Herald smile broadly. "You are wondering whether they are lifebonded? No. The teachers and I have tried many times to read them while they are together. There is no such bond as that, but still..."
The Healer shifted foward in his seat. His eyebrows were nearly touching the top of his forehead. It made a comical sight. "You mean, there is a bond between those girls? Close to, perhaps, the bond between a Companion and his Herald?"
Catzen snorted. "The bond between them comes no where close! But yes, there is a bond. I noticed it tonight, when Saphri appeared at the wards though she should have been in bed. It could be useful in the future; it would be more useful if Saphri was Chosen, but it is the Companion's Choice, not the Dean's."
"I take it for granted that you wish this to remain unknown." Herut said dryly.
"Yes. Neither girl realizes what keeps them so close, and the Collegium has decided to let them discover it on their own. We will be grateful for your silence in this matter. And we thank you for the information you provide us." the Herald told him, her eyes serious yet warm.
Herut was able to read between the words of the Herald and nodded. He had been subtley requested to keep on eye on Saphri without arousing suspicion and to report any oddities to the Dean herself. A task he would take with pleasure.
((Author Note : Sorry for two things! First, for the length of time it took me to write this and post it. Second, for it being so short. I promise better in the future.))