Chapter Two
Gone
Rianne leaned across the table toward Kellen. Her curly hair was being dragged through the stew and she didn't even notice, in her anxiety.
"Kellen! What is it?" Rianne whispered urgently. "What's happened?"
Kellen took a deep breath in an attempt to ease the pain that was written so clearly on his face.
"It's the Death Bell, Rianne. It only rings when a Herald dies. As soon as it happens, all the Heralds know who it is . . ." his voice trailed off.
"Well?" Rianne whispered. "Which Herald was it?"
Kellen's breath caught in his throat, and Rianne could see that he was fighting the urge to cry. She assumed then, that it was someone he knew . . . but then, every Herald Trainee in the Hall looked upset. She looked curiously at Kellen.
"It was Herald Mira," he said softly.
Rianne gasped. Of all the people to die . . . Mira! Impossible.she rejected the thought. Kellen must have been mistaken, she thought. Mira's about as likely to die as . . .as Healer Berwick was of not assigning extra reading. She looked at Kellen, shaking her head doubtfully. He understood what she meant instantaneously, and nodded mournfully. Rianne sank back into the wooden chair in shock.
Herald Mira had been one of Rianne's first friends upon coming to the Collegiums, when Rianne had been lonely and afraid. Several of the Blues had ganged up on her while she was walking near Companion's Field, taunting and spitting at her. She had tried to run, but they proved to be just as fast, or faster than she. Just when she was about to burst into tears, Herald Mira had come cantering up on her Companion and scattered the rascals away. Ever since, Rianne had been devoted to Mira.
Rianne knew that Mira was Kellen's mentor. Because she possessed the same Gifts as he, she had been his main tutor. She got up and went round the corner of the table and knelt by his chair. She put her arms around him and held on as he began sobbing uncontrollably. Soon half the Mess Hall had joined in, for Herald Mira had been the friend and champion of many.
Gone
Rianne leaned across the table toward Kellen. Her curly hair was being dragged through the stew and she didn't even notice, in her anxiety.
"Kellen! What is it?" Rianne whispered urgently. "What's happened?"
Kellen took a deep breath in an attempt to ease the pain that was written so clearly on his face.
"It's the Death Bell, Rianne. It only rings when a Herald dies. As soon as it happens, all the Heralds know who it is . . ." his voice trailed off.
"Well?" Rianne whispered. "Which Herald was it?"
Kellen's breath caught in his throat, and Rianne could see that he was fighting the urge to cry. She assumed then, that it was someone he knew . . . but then, every Herald Trainee in the Hall looked upset. She looked curiously at Kellen.
"It was Herald Mira," he said softly.
Rianne gasped. Of all the people to die . . . Mira! Impossible.she rejected the thought. Kellen must have been mistaken, she thought. Mira's about as likely to die as . . .as Healer Berwick was of not assigning extra reading. She looked at Kellen, shaking her head doubtfully. He understood what she meant instantaneously, and nodded mournfully. Rianne sank back into the wooden chair in shock.
Herald Mira had been one of Rianne's first friends upon coming to the Collegiums, when Rianne had been lonely and afraid. Several of the Blues had ganged up on her while she was walking near Companion's Field, taunting and spitting at her. She had tried to run, but they proved to be just as fast, or faster than she. Just when she was about to burst into tears, Herald Mira had come cantering up on her Companion and scattered the rascals away. Ever since, Rianne had been devoted to Mira.
Rianne knew that Mira was Kellen's mentor. Because she possessed the same Gifts as he, she had been his main tutor. She got up and went round the corner of the table and knelt by his chair. She put her arms around him and held on as he began sobbing uncontrollably. Soon half the Mess Hall had joined in, for Herald Mira had been the friend and champion of many.
