Disclaimer: Didn't own. Don't own. Won't own. The end.

Original Characters: Herald-Mage Taythaleiya Shadowflame & Companion Alera (also, Alera's twin, Adira.)

Notes: Whee! Reviews! ^-^;; I live on reviews…

Echoes Of A Memory

Echo 3: Long Lost Friend

:What do you mean we're going back?: Alera, who was already annoyed, as Taytha had replaced the Glamour of "Kila" on him at the same time as she had restored her own "Herald Tay" disguise, now sounded slightly more aggravated than he originally had. :Just in case you had forgotten, the Pelagiris is not my most favorite vacationing spot.:

:Then it's a good thing we're not on vacation.: Taytha replied, stepping out of the Palace and pausing as she door closed behind her. She took a deep breath of the fresh winter air and unconsciously glanced in the direction of Companion's Field. :You can stay where you are for a bit, though. I'm going to see Savil.:

She could Feel Alera's surprise. :Savil? Why?:

:Um, she was my mentor, you know.:

Her Bondmate gave a snort. :You want to check on that Tylendel boy, don't you?:

:I'm more than a little curious about who will take over for me.:

:Luckily, I already know Gala. So I can keep right on lounging with my dearest sister.:

The sarcasm was practically dripping from that particular sentence, but Taytha ignored it. She knew that, despite the fact that he would take life in Hevenbeck to living in Haven any day, he did enjoy visiting with Adira and the other Companions once in a while. He was just in a bad mood because he wanted to go home instead of traipsing through the Pelagiris Forest with her.

Not that he had much of a choice.

She headed toward Savil's suite, cutting through the Gardens to avoid as many of the youngsters as she could. It was strange, she mused, how many of the Trainees – Heraldic or otherwise – that she recognized and knew about, considering how often she and Alera weren't in Haven.

Here was Trainee Soral, who was in her second year. Her Gift was Fetching, and she was Chosen by Kiam.

There was Trainee Jenry, who was in his fourth year. He was lifebonded, it seemed, to a girl named Crista, who was currently in Healers. His Gifts were ForeSight and Empathy, and he was Chosen by Laurelia.

And there, Trainee Ren, who was in her first year. She had just been brought to Haven a few months ago, with a powerful and dangerous Mage Gift, which had taken several people to Shield at first, until she could learn to contain it himself. Her Companion, Brianna, still had to help her with it occasionally.

Trainee Taire, with the Gift of FarSight, and Chosen by Gracie.

Trainee Dari, with the Gifts of Fetching and Healing, and Chosen by Keysa.

Trainee Marshal, with the Gift of ForeSight, and Chosen by Falynn.

Taytha hadn't realized just how in-touch Taver and Lancir were keeping she and Alera, until she looked around and noted, with some surprise, that she could name off facts about almost every Heraldic Trainee that she saw, and some of the Healers and Blues as well.

I'll have to remember to thank them next time I see them.

Really, it wasn't all due to them. Part of what she knew came from her own Gift of ForeSight. Occasionally, she got flashes of facts, relating to Haven and the happenings there. And, even more occasionally, she got flashes that helped her become familiar with the occupants of the Collegia.

The girl that Alera had told her about earlier, Yeia, must have been new to the Collegium, as she hadn't recognized either her or her Companion's name.

:You just pick things to think about at random, don't you?:

:Actually, I have a good train of thought going.: She responded to Alera's comment, :you're just not quick enough to keep up when my mind is going full-tilt.:

The Companion gave a disgusted snort -- :full-tilt, huh?: -- and vanished from her thoughts again, leaving Taytha with the feeling that he was less than in awe of her intellectual prowess.

He's a vain bugger. Probably thinks he's twice as smart as me.

:Three times, easily.:

:Weren't you supposed to be lounging?:

He laughed, :and you're supposed to be going to visit Savil, but you're actually going to spy on Tylendel.:

:Your point being?:

Another amused laugh and Taytha chuckled as well. They bickered, yes, like brother and sister, but she still loved him with all of her heart. He was wonderful and wise, and still, despite his sarcasm, her Savior.

:I'm also jaw-droppingly handsome.:

:And your humility knows no bounds.: She added snidely, a comment that elicited a mental rolling-of-eyes from Alera. Beyond his Mind, she could Sense Adira, who seemed to be snickering at the popinjay pecking they were currently doing at each other. She always found them amusing…

Alera's attention turned to Adira, and Taytha groaned loudly and put her Shields up to block them before he could snap at her. A few feet away, a handful of Blues all turned to look at her, then seemed to put the utterance up to Heralds and returned to their conversation.

For a moment, Taytha considered adding to their image of her as a not-quite-right young man by talking to herself in hushed tones, and then decided against it. Not everyone shared the demented sense of humor that she herself sported, and she didn't want rumors of an unbalanced Herald who was frightening the trainees to get back to Elspeth.

Who would probably just assume the rumor originated from someone with an overactive imagination.

I should see how long it takes for them to back away with their hands in the air.

Still… she was on her way to see someone, and didn't want to take too long. She and Alera had a lot of traveling ahead of them and they needed to leave as soon as possible.

Taytha hoped the Guard at the main gate had been changed. She didn't want to have to explain to the one they had passed on the way in why "Herald Tay" and "Kila" were leaving only a candlemark or so after arriving.

Ahead of her, Savil's suite was just the same as she remembered it, down to the etching around the window frames. That was just like Savil, though, whom was not the most aesthetically-minded person in the world. She would never get around to changing the design of her home, unless Mardic or Donni flatly insisted or simply did it themselves.

:Most likely,: Adira told her, :it'll be the later.:

:I hate to say this, but I agree.: Alera sighed.

:Guys, go bug someone else.:

Why did she have to have two Companions chattering inside her mind?

:It could be worse.: Adira giggled, :we could go and find Kellan.:

:Please don't.: A sigh and Taytha knocked lightly on the door. After a momentary pause, when no one responded, she cracked it open and peeked around the corner. "Hello? Savil? Anyone home?"

There was no answer, and she stepped inside. The suite was the same inside as she remembered it, too, and she had no problems finding her way around. From the main hallway, Mardic and Donni's room was on the right, and Tylendel's was across from theirs. Savil herself had her room around the corner. There was another room, which had a door leading to the gardens, on the other side, opposite hers. As far as Taytha knew, that room had been empty since its previous occupant had left.

No one seemed to be home, not that she wasn't particularly surprised by it. Savil was most likely teaching a class somewhere, and the others would be at lessons. They would be back for lunch, probably in the next hour or so.

Upon consideration, she decided to wait.

And if they don't get back soon, I'll leave a note and go.

Glancing around, she noted the Hawkbrother masks that still adorned the walls. They made her feel guilty, as she hadn't been to see Starwind or Moondance in quite some time. In fact, the last time that she had been to k'Treva had been during her time training with Savil.

And though she had never been accepted into their Vale as a wingsib, like Savil herself had been, she still felt an undeniable camaraderie with the Tayledras. She made a mental note to make time to visit them again once she and Alera were finished with their current mission.

:Don't forget, Chosen, we need to find time for Lirr and The Folk as well.:

:I know, I know.: Taytha sighed, :for Shadows of nothing, we certainly have a busy schedule.:

Alera chuckled and faded out again as Taytha chose to drop onto one of the couches and rest her head against the back. She had a lot to think about, including just how a troupe of men in Karsite Guard uniforms had managed to slip through Iftel undetected.

Besides that, her head was beginning to hurt…

-he prowled the dark, sheltered corner of his mind that was the only place free of pain, the only place that was still his and his rage seethed with all the re-hot, pent fury of a volcano about to erupt. Periodically, he tested his bonds, but they never yielded, and he was forced to retreat again. He wanted revenge; he wanted to feel those others die beneath the lash of his anger as the construct had died. He wanted to hear them shriek in pain and fear; he wanted to destroy them so utterly that there would not even be a puff of ash to blow away on the breeze when he was finished.

And there was nothing he could do. The spell confusing his senses was too strong to break out of; even when they'd freed his hands and feet, he'd been unable to act on that freedom. Whoever had sent that spell powder had known what he was capable of, and had integrated magic-blocking with Mind-magic-blocking, until there was nothing he could use to lever himself out of his encapsulation.

Whoever? No – this could only be the work of his enemy. No one else knew him so well, knew his weaknesses as well as his strengths. And he had tipped his hand by using Fetching to retrieve the construct, telling his enemy, in effect, exactly what he was dealing with.

He cursed himself for having the stupidity to play right into his enemy's hands.

And his anger built until that was all there was – white rage and the hunger to kill.

Then, suddenly, only of the walls he had been flinging himself against vanished, giving him the opening he needed.

He burst his mage-born bonds and roared up out of himself, wild as a rabid beast, every deadly weapon in his arsenal sharp and ready, and looking for a target.

Any target-

"You're letting your Glamour slip, Herald Tay."

Taytha jerked awake, her mind foggy and confused, with the fragmented images of fire and rage swirling through her thoughts. She hadn't meant to fall asleep at all, and now she couldn't get the disjointed images of her dream out of her mind.

In front of her, dressed in her Heraldic Whites, with her arms crossed and one sharp eyebrow raised, Savil regarded her coolly and with a hint of a smirk. The look on her face made Taytha guiltily check her Glamour and then reinforce it when it proved to have faded away while she slept.

"You're lucky that I'm the first one in," Savil told her in a reprimanding tone, "if one of the youngsters had gotten here for lunch before me, you would have had some kind of a task to explain yourself."

Taytha winced and stood. "I must have been more tired than I thought…"

"Hm." Her mentor snorted, very unladylike, and uncrossed her arms, gesturing for her to follow. "I'm going to make myself some tea. You might as well join me, since you've already made yourself at home."

She followed obediently, and watched in silence as Savil set about brewing a pot of tea, waiting for the inevitable question. In the companionable silence during which she worked, lunch was delivered by a swift and brisk woman that Taytha vaguely recalled to be Savil's new housekeeper.

"Taytha."

"Yes?"

Savil handed her a cup and Taytha accepted it gratefully. "What brings you to Haven today?"

A sigh. "I had a report due to Elspeth. There's been some activity along the Iftel border, and Alera and I are investigating it."

"Are?"

"Well," she grinned, "Elspeth has asked that we do another check through that particular section of Sorrows, and maybe down to Waymeet. We're leaving shortly to head back, but I thought I'd drop in and say hello."

:She's not stupid, Taytha. She knows you're investigating Tylendel.:

Alera didn't bother to Shield his comment from Savil, as he never had in the past. Because of Taytha's special training, there had been no room for the Silence that Companions normally insisted on retaining. Now, Savil chuckled at the familiar Voice and shook her head.

"What about you, Alera, how have you been doing?"

:I'd be better if I didn't have to go back to that damnable forest.:

Taytha groaned. "Not that we have much of a choice."

"She has a point." Savil agreed, then; "and as for Tylendel…" she paused, sighing, and sipped at her tea before returning to the living area and seating herself in one of the more comfortable chairs. "The feuding between his family and the Leshara clan has become markedly worse of late, and it's taking it's toll on him." At Taytha's concerned look, though, she waved a hand. "He'll be fine, child. He's firmly grounded, thanks to Gala, so don't worry about him. He's a bit stressed recently, and that's all."

Taytha nodded, setting her cup on a side table and rubbing a temple. "That's a bit of good news, at least."

"Do you have a headache?"

She looked up to see Savil watching her intently, sharp eyes fixed firmly on her. There was no point in telling her differently, as the woman had an uncanny ability to sniff out lies and half-truths, so Taytha made an agreeing noise; "keeping a Glamour up for as long as I have sometimes gives me one. It's no big deal."

"Are you tapping the correct nodes?"

"Yes."

Savil was a stickler for perfection, and would not be happy if she heard that Taytha was doing anything differently from the way she had been trained. Now she continued to watch her for a moment before turning back to her tea, seemingly satisfied. "Good. How long have you been maintaining the Herald Tay image?"

"Since this morning."

The older woman tisked but said nothing, and Taytha rechecked her Glamour once more. While her head hurt, it wasn't terribly bad, and she didn't want her outward image to waver until she was safely out of Haven and back on the road with Alera.

"I've been meaning to ask you," Savil said finally; "why you always call the Pelagiris "Sorrows"…"

"Huh?"

The question had come out of left field, and Taytha drew a blank at first when she attempted to think of an answer. If she was honest, she really didn't know – she had been calling it Sorrows for several years now, since the last few months of her training in the Collegium, and it all stemmed from a confusing and non-interpretable ForeSight dream she'd had. All she knew for sure was that the name was suiting… and in the future, when it inevitably came to be called "Sorrows" instead of simply "the Pelagiris", the name change would come with a terrible tragedy. One that would effect all of Valdemar, and even the surrounding countries, to a certain extent.

But I don't know enough to warn anyone…

"Taytha?"

She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment as vague memories of the dream from so long ago rose to the surface of her mind. "Elspeth asked me that once, too." She told Savil, "and I'll tell you the same thing that I told her, which is all that I know right now." Pausing, she opened her eyes once more and then continued; "some day, in the future, you will understand. Until then, I can't so anything to explain…"

Despite the vagueness of her answer, Savil accepted it with understanding. "ForeSight can be frustrating at times."

Taytha smiled. "Yes, it can."

She picked her cup up once more, sipping at the steaming liquid it contained, her thoughts drifting over the dreamlike images from her ForeSight vision so long ago. There was… snow… stars in the sky… whipping wind and biting cold… and grief that welled from… from… somewhere that she couldn't identify.

Damn it.

It bothered her that she couldn't put the pieces together, and it always would.

"Aunt Savil?"

The door opened and Taytha's eyes moved from her tea to the hallway as Savil swiveled to look at the youth who had entered the suite. From her appraising gaze, he appeared to be approximately fifteen or sixteen years old. His hair was a deep midnight black and his eyes were a shocking and luminous silver that was almost ethereal in color. This effect was set off by the smoky gray-black outfit that he was currently wearing. He was, she mused, probably the most handsome teenager she had ever seen; and by the way he was carrying himself, he knew it.

"I've just come back for lunch."

He said this flatly, heading toward the table where the housekeeper had left the food as he spoke. Savil simply sighed and nodded, then looked back to Taytha, who continued to watch him intensely. Surprised, she watched her former-pupil as she studied the boy carefully.

:What is it, Chosen?:

Taytha frowned slightly, still eyeing the boy. :He's familiar...:

A pause, then; :you've never met him before, I can tell you that. He's just come to Haven in the last fortnight or so, according to Taver. His father is Lord Withen Ashkevron, and the Lord is fostering him with Savil because he's been nothing but trouble back at the Keep.:

She listened to Alera, but couldn't keep the strange feeling that she knew him out of her thoughts. Finally, when he had gathered his lunch and vanished into his room, she shook her head and turned her attention back to Savil, who was looking at her with curiosity.

"Your nephew, Savil?"

"Yes." Savil heaved a sigh. "Vanyel. His father sent him here for schooling, but really it was to get rid of him. Ever since he was born, Withen's had no love for him. It's not Vanyel's fault, but he's grown to be a problem because of it. Withen hopes that fostering him here will get his mind out of the clouds and back where it belongs."

"And is it working?"

"Not particularly." Savil replied dryly. "Now the boy just harbors a resentment toward myself as well, for going along with it."

"Ah." Taytha shook her head sadly, glancing toward the bedroom that Vanyel had vanished into.

There was something about him…

Something sad, almost, as well as a feeling that she had only ever Felt from Starwind and Moondance in the past. And she was sure that she knew him from somewhere, despite Alera's assurance that she had never met the boy before. It was a strange and disconcerting feeling.

:You don't know him, Taytha.:

:But he's so… familiar…:

:I'm not sure why.: Alera told her, :because you've never met him before. Though, to tell you the truth, I wouldn't consider what just happened meeting him, either. He's got a heavy chip on his shoulder, Love.:

:That much I could tell.: She hesitated, then offered; :he's also shay'a'chern.:

:You picked up on that, too?:

:Yes.:

:Not even he knows yet, Chosen.:

:Do you suppose that's part of the problems he's been having with his father?:

:Possibly. From what I've heard, Lord Ashkevron is slightly less than tolerant in such matters… if he thought that his son was shay'a'chern then he would probably be severely unhappy.:

:Hm… shall I mention this to Savil?:

Alera considered. :I… feel that they will all find out in time.:

:What's that supposed to mean?: Taytha rolled her eyes. :So that's a "no"?:

:I wouldn't. Let things take their own course.: Alera nodded mentally, then; :I hate to say this, but we should probably be going. That is, if you want to get out of Haven by sundown. I'm just saying my good-byes and heading to the stables to get tacked up, now.:

:Yeah, yeah.: Taytha turned her attention back to Savil, setting her cup on the table once more and quickly standing. "Alera says its about time to get moving. We need to get back up to Sorrows as soon as possible so we can report back to Elspeth again, so…"

The woman across from her sipped from her tea; "of course."

She paused, considering mentioning her conclusions about Vanyel to Savil despite Alera's warnings, but then decided against it. Leaning down, she gave her mentor – old bird that she was – a quick hug and then disappeared out the door without so much as another word, her mind still mulling over the strange aura and feelings she had picked up from Vanyel.

I could swear that I've seen him somewhere before…

Alera gave a snort that echoed in her head, making her wince. :What did I tell you?:

:I know, I know. I don't know him and blah, blah, blah.:

:Exactly.:

But Taytha… she wasn't sure…

~*~*~*~*~*~

Me: Nyao nyao~! =^-^= Just in case anyone wondered, Taytha's ForeSight dream was taken from pages 299-300 of "Magic's Price", with the exception that I changed "Vanyel" to "he" a couple of times to make it more vague and dreamlike. ^.~ I don't own that particular passage, or any other random ForeSight dreams that are taken from future sections of the (actual) Valdemar timeline.